I've always been thankful to Steve Koczela for his postings. How else could we keep abreast of the village news, especially as to what goes on in relation to what the Shorewood Village Board is doing and what it's up to.

The Board and its various committees seems to have an affinity for “closed-door meetings.”   Most often people who are not citizens of the community are permitted to attend these behind-the-scene meetings while citizens most continuously interested in our community and what the government is doing, like Steve Koczela are not allowed a peak in.

I've for a number of years tried to get the Board to discuss certain questions and until recently the Board believed that it could not enter into discussion with a citizen at Board meetings. They of course, want to avoid anything that might appear to be even remotely related to a debate They want to keep only to the approved agenda.

During the next election process, I would like our candidates to discuss their positions on this distancing of the Board members from citizens of the community. I would like to hear how they intend to improve transparency and avoid behind-the-scene actions.

I know that things come before the Board eventually, but usually after everything is fully resolved or after the deal is closed and long after I were to know that there was a deal in the making and with whom.

I'm always looking toward improving democratic relationships of government with its citizens. 'Seems that that could especially be made to work best at the local level.

How about the members of the Board and candidates for membership, what is your response? Let's have it fairly soon, before it gets discussed behind-the-scenes. Is that too much for a citizen to ask? Or should I take my answer behind a closed-door?

It is possible today for those really interested in local government, with the various means of communication, to become somewhat closer associated with what is going on in their local governments.

However, the face to face discussions that were once experienced in the town meetings of the past still seem relevant today, even more so that in the past.

I've suggested earlier that Shorewood begin to experiment with some form of round-table town meeting on a monthly basis with Trustees being present along with citizens who are interested in our day to day government.

These town meetings could fall toward the middle of the month between the two formal Village Board meetings or later in the month.

I believe that both government officials and citizens would gain from a community development standpoint.

Inputs made by citizens may even eliminate the need for some surveys and would be as important as other information that is passed on in other ways.

It has become obvious that official meetings in Shorewood receive sparse attendance or are not attended at all by citizens and receive little news coverage and therefore citizens are becoming even less informed than in the past.

I'd like to see us hold these town meetings, especially as we come closer to election time, where we can more easily exchange information with people planning to run for office. Why not?

How about it Village Board? Why not plan for one of these meetings for mid-December, or mid-January at the latest? Let's see how it works.