NASSAU COUNTY CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC.
"The government is us, we are the government, you and I." Teddy Roosevelt
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NASSAU COUNTY CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC. "The government is us, we are the government, you and I." Teddy Roosevelt |
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The Disclosure and Accountability Reform Act
The right of the people to participate in their government is the very basis of liberty. Liberty is the ability to make informed choices about the direction of our government. This can only be accomplished when the operation of government is open and transparent. Without disclosure, government becomes unaccountable and often substitutes it’s will for that of the people.
“I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion.” Thomas Jefferson
When local legislation is proposed by the Nassau County legislature, the proposed legislation (in its final form for passage) must be filed with the clerk of the county legislature. The number and title of the legislation must then be entered on the legislative agenda and posted in a conspicuous place in the county court house at least one week prior to its consideration. A legal notice of hearing must also be published in the official newspapers of the county only four days prior to the date of such hearing.
The current law requiring notice of proposed legislation is inadequate. It only encourages a monologue instead of a dialogue. We would recommend that the law be amended to require a minimum of thirty days notice prior to any hearing date. Furthermore, the county should require the establishment of a public registry where all proposed legislation (in final form for passage) would be published on county website and made available at all public libraries thirty days prior to the public hearing.
This thirty day notice period would allow interested parties to express their concerns to the legislature prior to the hearing date both verbally and in writing including e-mail. These amendments will provide the people with an ample opportunity to petition their government and ensure full disclosure. This will encourage greater accountability on the part of the legislature.
“Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights.” Thomas Jefferson