Easton was one of 45 communities in Massachusetts honored Wednesday as a “superstar” by Common Cause’s Massachusetts Campaign for Open Government because of the information available on its town Web site.
“E-Government” awards were presented in a ceremony at the Statehouse during “Sunshine Week,” an annual event created to increase awareness about open government issues nationwide.
To first qualify for “star” status, Easton’s town Web site, www.easton.ma.us, had to meet six criteria: posting the governing body’s agenda, the governing body’s minutes, budget information, general bylaws, the town meeting warrant and town meeting results.
Then the Campaign for Open Government reviewed the site to see whether it also met these criteria for “superstar status:” an archive of at least one year of selectmen’s meeting minutes and agendas, zoning bylaws, the town charter or charter information, community calendar with meetings of local committees, School Committee agenda and minutes, and the agendas and minutes of one other town committee.
Five area communities missed being designated “stars” because they were missing one of the six categories on their Web sites.
Brockton and Randolph were missing governing body minutes, Halifax was missing its town bylaws, Plympton was missing its town meeting results, and Taunton was missing budget information.
The Campaign for Open Government believes that, with the growth of the Internet, everyone should be able to obtain important information about local government with the click of a mouse.
By making information available on town Web sites, local government improves people’s ability to be responsible, informed citizens, the campaign said.
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Quelle/Source: Enterprise News, 19.03.2009
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