Ruth Oosting: Atwater pulling down shades on city government

We tout inclusive government in America as the cornerstone of our freedom and the envy of the world. In California, the government code requires open meetings, timely notification of the agenda and restrictions on hidden collusion among leaders.

Here in Atwater, the city manager might have a different take on how that translates into daily operations. Atwater is systematically closing the door to citizen participation.

It began nearly two years ago when the city manager-selected chairman of the Citizens Oversight Committee thought conducting public meetings behind closed doors without notice to the public was cool.

A short time later, the city manager abolished the planning commission and the traffic and parks and recreations commissions. Next, he put the axe to the public works and public safety commissions. Now, through his surrogates and under the guise of monetary savings, he is trying to cut city council meetings to one a month.

Opening meetings shine light on democratic governments; barricading City Hall behind locked doors does not.

This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 10:45 AM with the headline "Ruth Oosting: Atwater pulling down shades on city government."