Come see how Council sausage is made!
October 20, 2008 | The Hillsider
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The Hillside Township Council is allowing the public to sit on departmental budget sessions next week for the first time ever.
“While no questions from the public will be allowed during these meetings, I’m sure taxpayers will give the Councilmembers their input at a later council meeting,” 2nd Ward Councilwoman Shelley-Ann Bates writes on her blog.
During a series of 17 meetings over four days, administrators from the township’s various departments and offices will make 15-minute presentations to the council to ask for their share of the 2009 municipal budget. [The meeting schedule is below]
Making these meetings public is welcome news to open-government advocates such as Bates, who has introduced and convinced the council to pass laws meant to make township government more transparent.
In the past, the council has been secretive about their budget, sometimes releasing it days or hours before the first vote on it.
This is a sharp contrast to the Board of Education, which begins having public meetings and discussions on their budget months before the annual April referendum.
Monday, October 27th
4:00- 4:45 p.m. Police Dept.
4:45-5:20 p.m. Fire Dept.
5:20-6:00 p.m. Public Works Dept.
Tuesday, October 28
4:00 - 4:15 p.m. Senior Citizens Dept.
4:15 - 4:30 p.m. Welfare Dept.
4:30 - 5:00 p.m. Health Dept.
5:00 - 5:30 p.m. Building Dept.
5:30 - 6:00 p.m. UEZ
Wednesday, October 29
4:00 - 4:20 p.m. Library
4:20 - 4:45 p.m. Court
4:45 - 5:00 p.m. Recreation
5:00 - 5:15 p.m. Tax Collector
Monday, November 3
4:00 -4:15 p.m. Swimming Pool
4:15 - 4:30 p.m. Clerk’s Office
4:30 - 5:00 p.m. Tax Assessor
5:00 - 5:15 p.m. Treasurer
5:15 - 5:30 p.m. Mayor
One Response to “Come see how Council sausage is made!”
By Irene Goldie-Petras on Oct 22, 2008 | Reply
Many thanks for the schedule of meetings. As the Executive Director of the Hillside Chamber of Commerce, I have forwarded this list to our members. Many many businesses in Hillside own their property and therefore pay taxes to support not only their businesses but also the residents and all the services provided by the township. Hopefully both residents and business representatives will attend and listen carefully at the requests from each department head. Make sure to take notes so that at open budget hearings when you can speak, you will have information at your fingertips!