For a city that prides itself on transparency, last week’s decision to appoint members of the public to the Morgan Hill Downtown Economic Development Corporation without an application process, sends the wrong message.
While we understand the need to safeguard the city’s former Redevelopment Agency assets including $19.3 million in cash by creating the EDC, the process of selecting the members should have been open to all, not just those on Mayor Steve Tate’s short list.
The idea of replacing the five-member city council as the oversight body for the nonprofit EDC with five citizens not connected to the city via a paycheck, commission seat or any other municipal involvement is create some independence with an “arm’s length” distance between the private nonprofit corporation and the city itself, according to City Manager Ed Tewes.
But how autonomous is the board if it’s appointed without an open selection process?
The city uses a process to select and appoint members of the public to various boards and commissions. That process includes advertising the open seats, accepting applications, interviewing candidates then appointing them. It raises concerns when the city departs from its standard practice.
If there are time constraints, then streamline the process, don’t abandon it.
“Why is it not open to the public for other members (to join)?” asked former City Councilwoman Marby Lee at last week’s meeting.
While we have no beef with those selected – Greg Sellers, Brad Krouskup, Laura Gonzales-Escoto, Doug Moffat and Howard Allred – we do strongly disagree with the method used. Mayor Tate and Councilman Gordon Siebert selected the five members without public involvement, then the Mayor nominated Siebert and Councilman Larry Carr to complete the final two seats on the seven-member board. How is that transparent?
Transparency comes from opening the process and allowing all to be involved.
