How do fees affect citizen participation?

I can’t help but wonder if town document fees, despite limitations imposed by CGS Sec. 1-212, and the necessity of a physical trip to town hall have a tangible negative impact on citizen knowledge and participation in town politics. I know for certain they have that result with me, but how many others feel the same way?

Just for reference the standard fee for a copy of any standard document not fortunate enough to be featured on the town website or unfortunate enough to have aged off the site is 50 cents per page. In the case of a double sided document that is 50 cents per side.

For a bit of reference the last P&Z meeting I attended had an information packet about 96 pages in length not including over-sized drawings and the minutes of previous meetings. For the math impaired that translates into a fee of greater than $48 for the average citizen to  have access to the same information as the P&Z members. Granted the information is available for review in the Town Council office (I believe) and on site at the meeting, but it’s hardly practical for one person to review 96 pages plus drawings and minutes prior to a meeting or while sitting in the council office. It’s not expected that commission or council members should have to do so and it should not be expected for citizens to do so.

I took this a step further and investigated just how much money the town takes in through copy fees. According to data from the finance department since July 1st 2007 the town has taken in just $1,200 across all departments in copy fees. Weigh that sum against the capital expenditures in the budget that many called discretionary to say the least and it demonstrated just how minuscule that amount really is. There is clearly no risk of loss of a substantial revenue stream by making documents freely available.

Here’s what I’d like to see happen. I’d like to see every committee, commission and council document made available either online at the town website or for free at the council office.
I’d like to see the town website archive all electronic documents in perpetuity. There is no excuse for the events of last year to fall off the site eliminating the simplest way for residents to know what has happened in the past.

I’d like to see all EHCTV broadcasts made available on the town website and archived.

I realize all this takes time and money, but the technology is here and there is no excuse for it to cost the residents of East Hartford anything to exercise their right to be informed citizens.

There is nothing more vital to healthy government than an informed citizenry. Without transparency everything else is just a show.

That’s what I think. What do you think?

Tags: East Hartford, Fees, P&Z, transparency