Local workshops to tackle local government transparency
As local government transparency remains a focal point for residents across West Michigan, two upcoming workshops in Ottawa County aim to pull back the curtain on how municipal decisions are made and how the public can access official records.
OTTAWA COUNTY — As local government transparency remains a focal point for residents across West Michigan, two upcoming workshops in Ottawa County aim to pull back the curtain on how municipal decisions are made and how the public can access official records.
The initiatives, hosted by the City of Holland and the Ottawa News Network, arrive as civic groups nationwide mark the importance of open-government laws and resident participation in the democratic process.
If you go
ONN’s Freedom of Information Act Workshop
- When: 6:30-8 p.m. Friday, March 20
- Where: Ottawa County Fillmore Complex, 12220 Fillmore St., West Olive
- Cost: Free; registration required due to limited seating
The Essentials of Local Government
- When: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 22
- Where: Herrick District Library, 300 S. River Ave., Holland
- Cost: Free; registration available via Eventbrite or by emailing hrc@cityofholland.com
Navigating municipal essentials
On April 22, the City of Holland’s Human Relations Commission will partner with the Michigan Municipal League to host "The Essentials of Local Government."
The session, scheduled for 6:30-8 p.m., will take place at the Herrick District Library.
Christopher J. Johnson, general counsel for the MML, will lead the course. The curriculum covers the fundamentals of municipal structure, the specific roles of advisory boards, and the legal frameworks of the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act.
“We’re always looking to build transparency and trust with our residents,” Esther Fifelski, the City of Holland’s human relations director, said in a news release. “This class will help them understand how decisions are made and the process.”
City officials noted that the workshop serves as a pipeline for residents interested in volunteering for local boards and commissions, emphasizing that no prior background in government is required to attend.
Sunlight as a ‘disinfectant’
The Holland event follows a March 20 workshop focused specifically on FOIA, hosted by the Ottawa News Network. The session is timed to coincide with Sunshine Week, a national nonpartisan initiative launched in 2005 to promote open government.
The timing of Sunshine Week honors the March 16 birthday of James Madison, the "father of the Constitution" and a staunch advocate for public access to information.
The movement’s name stems from Justice Louis Brandeis’ famous 1913 observation that “sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.”
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Sarah Leach, executive editor of ONN, will lead the workshop at the Ottawa County Fillmore Complex. The training intends to move FOIA beyond professional journalism and into the hands of the general public.
“It’s critical for citizens to know that FOIA is a tool anyone can use,” Leach said. “This is a common mechanism for journalists to hold government accountable, but it’s also something anyone can use to learn more about how decisions are made, how their tax dollars are being spent and what is happening outside of public meetings.”
The workshop will provide practical "tips and tricks" for filing successful requests and guidance on the appeals process if a request is denied.
Clay Stauffer, chair of the ONN board of directors, described the right to understand government actions as a constitutional essential.
“Ottawa News Network is proud to sponsor this workshop that will help attendees to exercise their constitutional right to understand what their governmental agencies are doing on the people’s behalf,” Stauffer said.
— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at hvandyke@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
