Saturday, June 26, 2021

 

Health & Fitness

Medford City Council And The Freedom Of Information Act

Discussion of the Medford City Council and its interaction with the citizens of Medford

by Joe Viglione

 

     Over the past few years a phenomenon has made its way to Alden Chambers at Medford City Hall.  Rather than have seven councilors a clerk and a messenger as the only people in attendance on some occasions , members of the Medford community - everyday people - are starting to participate in a more active and robust fashion.

    This is a dramatic change in how things are done at City Hall.   Not only are people in attendance and participating in local government, those participants are improving our city by making positive changes.

    Councilor Michael Marks thanked a constituent (that would be me) for alerting him to "public records requests."   The United States Department of Justice has a page on FOIA - http://www.foia.gov/

Find out what's happening in Medford with free, real-time updates from Patch.

What is FOIA?

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a law that gives you the right to access information from the federal government. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government.

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     Local news media attending the City Council meetings get ideas.  This writer started asking about boards and commissions, filing public records requests (plural) on the long-dormant Cable TV Commission. This resulted in one commissioner resigning on the day that the follow-up request was made and a complaint was filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office for failure to reply.

     The Public Records Request gives the government 10 days to respond. If the government doesn't respond, you have remedies and sometimes need to exercise those rights.   This information should actually be taught in school because, as my experience indicates, many citizens aren't aware that we have a right to information at City Hall.

     That includes, people, allegedly e mails that travel from employees at City Hall to residents, allegedly those e mails to other employees, allegedly the Mayor's e mails, this is public information and we have a right to know what these people do during the day.

     While investigating the Cable TV Commission the Medford Housing Authority scandal broke.   People who watched the council meetings saw me discussing both the Cable TV Commission and the MHA Board of Directors.   I hinted that there may be a relative to someone at City Hall on the MHA board. I called it the "elephant in the room."  The City Council went silent on it.  So this citizen borrowed a camera from another town and filmed the MHA board meeting and asked if anyone on the board and/or the Executive Director had relationships at City Hall.  Gene McGillicuddy, a nice fellow I knew at TV 3, was honest, despite a local lawyer jumping up in an attempt to "object."  I noted to that lawyer that I had the floor and he backed off (nor did the MHA Board even ask for help).  Mr. Covelle said he was related "by marriage".

     Contacting the Governor's office within 24 hours there was a resignation of the Mayor's uncle, Governor Patrick replacing him with Sean Caron.  This was amazing work as the stalemate which I believe would have kept Robert Covelle in power was upended.  Covelle - and City Hall Medford - appeared almost arrogant that Covelle would stay.  A citizen made a difference with a camera and with some information sent to the State House.

     A City Council candidate then took things a step furher.  Former candidate Michael DiClemente told the City Council to start "vetting" the candidates for Boards and Commissions.   He held them to the test that very night and instead of rubber stamping someone, a local resident made a difference, a Councilor asking the candidate "Are you related to the Mayor."

    A local publication wrote a story on boards and commissions after my urging them to do so.

   You CAN make a difference.  But it takes showing up.  Show up on Tuesday nights and let your voice be heard.  Get those potholes fixed.  After speaking up about Potholes on May 29, 2012 the potholes on my street were filled on May 30th.  See what I mean?

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