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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Gary
Crabtree wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>“</span><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>A question that leaps
to mind would have to be, WAS any city business conducted via private
e-mail or is this simply a great big fishing expedition/harassment technique
conducted by someone who is'nt a resident of the city of Moscow and who harbors
resentment that his treasured MCA council members were shown the door in such a
overwhelming manner? Is it "city business" every time the topic of
water is mentioned in a private E-mail? Once I hear an unbiased answer to these
questions it will be easier to have an opinion.”</span><span
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I
considered whether or not to respond since Mr. Crabtree certainly doesn’t
consider me “unbiased,” so he’ll be inclined to find some
lame excuse to discount my response and to vomit more invective in my
direction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>However,
since this is something others may legitimately wonder (Wayne Price seemed to
be asking something similar, and I see Paul Rumelhart has posted), I’ll answer
</span><span style='font-family:Wingdings;color:#1F497D'>J</span><span
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>First,
consider that the email addys given on the City’s Web site for some
Council members <b>are</b> their “private,” rather than City, email
addys. So, absent any specific examples, it’s a pretty sure bet
that city business is being conducted through those “private” email
addys – I sincerely doubt I’m the only one who has contacted
council members in this manner. This is something anyone is free to
verify for themselves:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>“</span><span
class=style41><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>(Note: to email all Council
members you may use the link on the bottom of this page)”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a
href="http://www.ci.moscow.id.us/council/MeetCouncil.asp">http://www.ci.moscow.id.us/council/MeetCouncil.asp</a></span><span
style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Clicking
on the line provides the following:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a
href="mailto:blambert@ci.moscow.id.us">blambert@ci.moscow.id.us</a>; <a
href="mailto:dcarscallen@ci.moscow.id.us">dcarscallen@ci.moscow.id.us</a>; <a
href="mailto:jweber@moscow.com">jweber@moscow.com</a>; <a
href="mailto:tlamar@moscow.com">tlamar@moscow.com</a>; <a
href="mailto:wmsteed@aol.com">wmsteed@aol.com</a>; <a
href="mailto:wkrauss@ci.moscow.id.us">wkrauss@ci.moscow.id.us</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Second,
I personally have contacted council members regarding City business via the
email addys provided on the City Web site, and I’ve received email
responses discussing City business from the “private” email addys
of Council members. An exception would be John Weber: in the time
since his election, I don’t think he’s learned to use email as he
stated he would do since <b>every single time</b> I’ve tried to contact
him, I get a delivery failure notice (</span>522 5.0.0 User mailbox size is
over quota)<span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>.
<shaking my head><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Third,
there are quite a few examples of Visionaries contacting Council members via
email (using the email addys provided by the City Web site) about City business
right in the V2020 archives </span><span style='font-family:Wingdings;
color:#1F497D'>J</span><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'> Since Mr. Crabtree will use any contrived excuse to
discount my personal reports to defend his buddies, here’s an example
from someone else:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a
href="http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/2009-January/060475.html">http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/2009-January/060475.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>-----Original Message-----<br>
From: vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com] On
Behalf Of Bev Bafus<br>
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 12:49 PM<br>
To: blambert@ci.moscow.id.us; dcarscallen@ci.moscow.id.us; jweber@moscow.com;
tlamar@moscow.com; wmsteed@aol.com; wkrauss@ci.moscow.id.us;
nchaney@ci.moscow.id.us<br>
Cc: vision2020@moscow.com<br>
Subject: [Vision2020] Snow problems<span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Fourth,
I personally have received responses from Council members using their “private”
email addys to respond to inquiries from me regarding city business. Here’s
a recent example (header only), although, again, I’m sure this will fail
to satisfy Mr. Crabtree:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> WMSteed@aol.com [mailto:WMSteed@aol.com] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 18, 2009 4:51 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> sslund_2007@verizon.net<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: Rescind or End Motion & End the Taxpayers' Costs<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Finally,
there are plenty of examples in the V2020 archives of Council members using
their “private” email addys to respond to inquiries discussing City
business. I’m not going to do any more of Mr. Crabtree’s work
for him, but I personally verified at least two instances from current Council
members.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>So,
no, Mr. Crabtree: unlike the “fishing expedition” public
record requests submitted by your Kirk cronies, there’s ample evidence
that some Council members are using their “private” email addys to
conduct City business. Those emails absolutely are covered by Idaho
Public Records law, and it’s absolutely ridiculous that we-the-taxpayers
are on the financial hook to the tune of at least $5000 because some Council
members seem to suffer from serious ethical challenge with respect to complying
with Idaho Public Records law, law that’s in place to protect
we-the-people. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>For
those who are interested in learning more, the AG’s office has a pretty
nifty booklet that explains Idaho Public Records law:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a
href="http://www2.state.id.us/ag/manuals/publicrecords.pdf">http://www2.state.id.us/ag/manuals/publicrecords.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>From
AG Wasden’s introduction:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
color:#1F497D'>“</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Open government is
the cornerstone of a free society. The Idaho Legislature affirmed Idaho’s
commitment to open government by enacting the Idaho Public Records Law in 1990.
The Public Records Law protects each citizen’s right to monitor the
actions of state and local government entities by providing access to
governmental records.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>As
those who take the time to become familiar with Idaho Public Records law know,
it’s certainly not rocket science to understand the stuff! No,
email correspondence isn’t specifically addressed, but as our resident
journalist Kai explained:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>“</span><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Any
correspondence regarding public business, with a few
exceptions, is a matter of public record. It doesn't matter if they were
sent from a private email account, they must be allowed to be seen by the
public at will. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Public
business IS the public's business.”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>In
2005, AG Wasden had his deputy AGs tour the state giving workshops about Idaho’s
Open Meeting & Public Records laws – they were here July 21, 2005.
I attended, and our local governments were amply represented, which makes it
all the more concerning that our public officials are having difficulty with
the concept and with compliance. That “difficulty” or seemingly
blatant unwillingness to comply is now costing <b>us</b> money.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>And,
I have to comment that those very Council members who were the biggest whiners
about the costs of fighting the Great Water Give-Away to Hawkins have absolutely
no problem throwing money to each other hand over fist to fight complying with a
law that’s supposed to protect us from government! What’s
with that?! They are, I think, excellent examples of elected officials
who don’t want transparency in government . . . people who are stuck in
the past and people who are seemingly not up to the ethical requirements of public
service.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Another
excuse made last night was the “difficulty” Wayne Fox’s
requests present because they go back to when Steed & Krauss took office.
Well, HELLLLOOOO! Had Krauss & Steed been regularly turning over emails
dealing with public business sent to & from their “private”
email accounts, this would be a non-issue. The fault is not with Wayne
Fox’s requests, but rather with the failure of council members to comply
with Idaho Public Records law, and to imply otherwise is offensive in the
extreme. Yet, the Council members opted to use these public records
requests as an “excuse” to further financially gouge those seeking
access to public records!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>A
skeptical person might wonder why these particular requests were used to jack
up rates when previous “fishing expedition” public records requests
were completed with a smile.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Finally,
Gary Crabtree wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>“</span><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Don't get me wrong,
any unnessacary spending is to be avoided but I have yet to hear any evidence
that would justify forcing council members to give access to private
communications to comply with what may well be a frivolous or unlawfull
request.”</span><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Given
Mr. Crabtree’s obvious animosity towards me, I don’t expect any of
this will satisfy him and cause him to rebuke his pals or object to this clear
waste of taxpayer money. I’m sure he’s still heartbroken that
his heroine Sarah Palin was caught violating the same idea of public records.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>However,
for others with questions who have managed to read this far, I hope this helps.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Saundra Lund<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Moscow, ID<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good
people to do nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>~ Edmund Burke<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>***** Original material contained herein is Copyright 2009
through life plus 70 years, Saundra Lund. Do not copy, forward, excerpt,
or reproduce outside the Vision 2020 forum without the express written
permission of the author.*****<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> a
[mailto:smith@turbonet.com] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, April 21, 2009 2:02 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Joe Campbell; Saundra Lund; vision2020@moscow.com; bear@moscow.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] Wasted Money: City Level<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>A
question that leaps to mind would have to be, WAS any city business
conducted via private e-mail or is this simply a great big fishing
expedition/harassment technique conducted by someone who is'nt a resident of
the city of Moscow and who harbors resentment that his treasured MCA council
members were shown the door in such a overwhelming manner? Is it "city
business" every time the topic of water is mentioned in a private E-mail?
Once I hear an unbiased answer to these questions it will be easier to have an
opinion. It's a little hard to get overly exersized over spending $2500.00 in
funds allready budgeted for situations precisely like this. Don't get me wrong,
any unnessacary spending is to be avoided but I have yet to hear any evidence
that would justify forcing council members to give access to private
communications to comply with what may well be a frivolous or unlawfull
request.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>g</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>-----
Original Message ----- </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>From:
<</span><a href="mailto:bear@moscow.com"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>bear@moscow.com</span></a><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>></span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>To:
"Joe Campbell" <</span><a href="mailto:philosopher.joe@gmail.com"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>philosopher.joe@gmail.com</span></a><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>>; "Saundra
Lund" <</span><a href="mailto:sslund_2007@verizon.net"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>sslund_2007@verizon.net</span></a><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>>; <</span><a
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"'>vision2020@moscow.com</span></a><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>></span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Sent:
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 8:11 AM</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Subject:
Re: [Vision2020] Wasted Money: City Level</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>>
Hi Joe,<br>
> <br>
> I'm not a "teabager" in any sense of the definition, but I am
going to jump in on this<br>
> one.<br>
> <br>
> First, the role of the City Attorney, based on the Functions and Mission
Statement that<br>
> they <br>
> have published are:<br>
> Function:<br>
> The City Attorney is the primary legal counsel for the City Council,
Boards and<br>
> Commissions, <br>
> the City Supervisor, City Departments, officers and employees. The City
Attorney provides<br>
> legal <br>
> representation and advises City officials on all legal matters involving
the City,<br>
> including land <br>
> use, personnel, contracts, real property transactions, elections, and
re-development. The<br>
> City <br>
> Attorney represents the City in state and federal court, oversees outside
counsel handling<br>
> other <br>
> litigation, and completes other tasks as assigned.<br>
> <br>
> Mission Statement:<br>
> To provide highest quality legal services and advice to the Mayor, Council
and City<br>
> Departments <br>
> with minimal use of outside assistance of counsel so that the interests of
justice and<br>
> fairness <br>
> are served and the values of the community are upheld.<br>
> To conduct fair and even-handed prosecution services which focus on our
responsibility to<br>
> do <br>
> justice tempered with mercy.<br>
> <br>
> Now that we know what the functions and mission are, we have to ask a
logical question in <br>
> regards to the issue at hand, which as I read it is if city council
members use private<br>
> emails to <br>
> conduct city business, should those records of city business be accessible
to the public<br>
> under The Idaho Public Records Law; AND if there is a question as to if
they are or not,<br>
> should the <br>
> city provide money to determine that for the individual councilors?<br>
> <br>
> Well, they have legal counsel to go to to BEFORE they potentially violate
a state law. DID<br>
> they go <br>
> to and ask that legal counsel for advice BEFORE they acted? IF they
didn't, why not?And if<br>
> they <br>
> didn't, the individuals should be on the hook for their own legal bills.<br>
> <br>
> It also begs the question that since City Councilors have legal advice
before they act,<br>
> and they <br>
> have a city provided e-mail address with which to conduct city business,
WHY did they use<br>
> a <br>
> private address to conduct such business?<br>
> <br>
> So the questions we are faced with based on last nights decision to provide
these City <br>
> Councilors money for private legal counsel is multi-faceted.<br>
> 1) Why didn't they get legal counsel from the City Attorney before
they acted? This would<br>
> <br>
> question if they understand the functions of the City Attorney or
understand their jobs as<br>
> city <br>
> councilors.<br>
> <br>
> 2) Did they get advice from the City Attorney, did they take it? IF
they took it, no<br>
> matter what <br>
> that legal advice was, the City Attorney should be representing them, not
private legal<br>
> counsel.<br>
> <br>
> 3) If the City Attorney told them it was not legal to conduct city
business and they<br>
> ignored that <br>
> advice, then they are on the hook for their own legal bills, not the
citizens of the City<br>
> of <br>
> moscow.<br>
> <br>
> 4) IF they did in fact. violate the Idaho Public Records Law by using a
private computer<br>
> address <br>
> to conduct city business, it questions their abilities and ethics, and why
should the<br>
> citizens be <br>
> paying TWICE (City Attorney and private legal counsel) for their actions?<br>
> <br>
> Comments?<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
>> Teabagers? Any thoughts on this? <br>
>> I didn't think so! <br>
>> Joe Campbell<br>
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<br>
>> On Apr 21, 2009, at 12:38 AM, "Saundra Lund" <</span><a
href="mailto:sslund_2007@verizon.net"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"'>sslund_2007@verizon.net</span></a><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>> <br>
>> wrote:<br>
>> > Visionaries:<br>
>> > Wow -- I just watched the City Council vote to spend
***our*** <br>
>> > money to<br>
>> > help two City Council members retain legal counsel to figure
out <br>
>> > whether or<br>
>> > not they have to comply with Idaho Public Records Law with
respect to<br>
>> > official business conducted from "private" email
accounts. In a <br>
>> > nutshell,<br>
>> > our money is going to be spent to try to figure out how to
get <br>
>> > around Idaho<br>
>> > Public Records law.<br>
>> > Of course, it's a no brainer that once public officials choose to
use<br>
>> > "private" email accounts for public business, they lose
the <br>
>> > expectation of<br>
>> > privacy with respect to official business they conduct from
those <br>
>> > "private"<br>
>> > email accounts. More concerning, I think, is the use of
"private" <br>
>> > email<br>
>> > accounts to conduct public business in an attempt to avoid
both <br>
>> > legitimate<br>
>> > public record requests *and* public scrutiny of public business.<br>
>> > This is just crazy -- our City Council, led by John Weber and
egged <br>
>> > on by<br>
>> > Gary Riedner, just agreed to spend $2500 for *initial* legal
advice <br>
>> > for<br>
>> > *each* of the two City Council members (Steed and Krauss) -- out
of a<br>
>> > legislative available pool of $10,000 -- who are apparently
balking <br>
>> > at<br>
>> > turning over public records. Spend Crazy Weber made it clear<br>
>> > we-the-taxpayers should be on the hook for as much money as it takes
<br>
>> > for<br>
>> > these two Council members to fight complying with public
records <br>
>> > law. And<br>
>> > Weber also felt perfectly comfortable in making a snarky response
to <br>
>> > the<br>
>> > sole Council member who wasn't comfortable giving carte blanche
in <br>
>> > the form<br>
>> > of an open checkbook to defend the attempt to *not* comply
with <br>
>> > Idaho Public<br>
>> > Records Law. Clearly, the expectation of professional
conduct in <br>
>> > conducting<br>
>> > public business is far and above Weber's abilities.<br>
>> ><br>
>> > The fact of the matter is that if they were willing to turn over
the <br>
>> > items<br>
>> > that are, by definition, part of the public record, there would
be <br>
>> > no need<br>
>> > for *us* to pay for private legal counsel for them. It will
be <br>
>> > interesting<br>
>> > to see what attorneys are going to benefit from this public
financial<br>
>> > windfall.<br>
>> ><br>
>> > And, of course, all of this could have been easily avoided had
they <br>
>> > simply<br>
>> > used City-supplied email accounts rather than trying to hide
things <br>
>> > from<br>
>> > public view for a personal "pet project" that a clear
majority of <br>
>> > tax payers<br>
>> > don't support. The City has been well aware for quite a
long time <br>
>> > of the<br>
>> > specific problems with "private" email accounts being used
to <br>
>> > conduct City<br>
>> > business, yet they've chosen to take the path of least
resistance, <br>
>> > which is<br>
>> > now costing us Real Money, not to mention eroding public
confidence.<br>
>> ><br>
>> > Not surprisingly, both Council members who are trying to avoid
with<br>
>> > complying with Idaho's Public Records Laws were GMA
candidates. If <br>
>> > nothing<br>
>> > else, the actions of these two Council members make clear that
GMA is<br>
>> > heavily invested in continuing the good ol' boy network
that <br>
>> > absolutely<br>
>> > hasn't served our community well.<br>
>> ><br>
>> > Coupled with the changes in fees they also approved tonight to
make <br>
>> > getting<br>
>> > public records more expensive for us, it's clear this current
council<br>
>> > doesn't give a rip about transparency or accountability.
It's all <br>
>> > about the<br>
>> > good ol' boy network being alive and well here to continue to
allow <br>
>> > public<br>
>> > business to be conducted out of public view, and they ought to
be <br>
>> > ashamed.<br>
>> ><br>
>> > So, here's the real test of those who turned out for local
Tea <br>
>> > Parties: do<br>
>> > you really care about the issues you protested? If so, you
have an<br>
>> > obligation to protest this blatant waste of ***our*** scarce
local <br>
>> > taxpayer<br>
>> > funds. If you can't make a difference locally -- in your
home town <br>
>> > -- then<br>
>> > your efforts at the bigger picture are meaningless. So,
let's just <br>
>> > see how<br>
>> > genuine your concerns really are. Pardon me if I don't hold
my breath<br>
>> > because looking at the GMA leadership, it doesn't take a genius
to <br>
>> > see that<br>
>> > those involved are totally hooked into old ideas of leadership
that <br>
>> > have<br>
>> > historically failed to serve our community well.<br>
>> ><br>
>> > And, to John Weber: you're the one who clearly has no
interest in<br>
>> > generating goodwill when you are oh, so willing to waste the
hard- <br>
>> > earned<br>
>> > taxpayer dollars you take from us to advance your personal
special<br>
>> > interests. You perceive that your buddies are "under
attack" simply <br>
>> > because<br>
>> > a member of the public understands Idaho Public Record Law.
How <br>
>> > about you<br>
>> > taking the time to inform yourself -- there's really
nothing <br>
>> > complicated<br>
>> > about the issue -- before you go off half-cocked yet again?
Give us <br>
>> > all a<br>
>> > breath of fresh by showing you have the *ability* to
actually <br>
>> > understand the<br>
>> > issues that come before you -- there are a great many of us
who <br>
>> > continue to<br>
>> > wait . . . and wait. . . and wait for that glimmer of
actual <br>
>> > understanding<br>
>> > rather than your knee-jerk responses to "defend" your
personal <br>
>> > buddies at<br>
>> > the expense of the clear spirit and intent of Idaho's Public
Records <br>
>> > Laws.<br>
>> ><br>
>> > Basically, I'm of the opinion that if we-the-people don't
*demand*<br>
>> > transparency and accountability in our own community, it's
foolhardy <br>
>> > to<br>
>> > think we'll ever get it at the state or federal level. And,
sadly, <br>
>> > the<br>
>> > actions of our Council tonight is a great example of that truism.<br>
>> ><br>
>> ><br>
>> > Disgusted,<br>
>> > Saundra Lund<br>
>> > Moscow, ID<br>
>> ><br>
>> > The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good
people <br>
>> > to do<br>
>> > nothing.<br>
>> > ~ Edmund Burke<br>
>> ><br>
>> > ***** Original material contained herein is Copyright 2009
through <br>
>> > life plus<br>
>> > 70 years, Saundra Lund. Do not copy, forward, excerpt, or
reproduce <br>
>> > outside<br>
>> > the Vision 2020 forum without the express written permission of
the<br>
>> > author.*****<br>
>> ><br>
>> > =======================================================<br>
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