FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    CONTACT:  Pam Wilmot: 617-426-9600

                                                              Karla de Steuben: 781-233-1362 


 

COMMON CAUSE CALLS FOR EXPANDED ACCESS

TO LOCAL PUBLIC RECORDS  

Announces Campaign for Open Government 


 

BOSTON (March 16, 2006) — The government watchdog group Common Cause Massachusetts today announced a campaign to dramatically expand internet access to public records in cities and towns across the state. 

 

      The Massachusetts Campaign for Open Government will seek to triple over the next year the number of cities and towns that post key government records—like agendas, minutes, budgets, and bylaws--on their websites. 


 

      “The foundation of our democracy is built on public access to information about our government,” said Karla de Steuben, a Common Cause board member nominee and founder of the project.  “The easier it is to obtain key information, the more likely it is that people will have the tools necessary to effectively participate in government—and hold our elected leaders accountable.”

 

       The Massachusetts Campaign for Open Government reviewed records for all 351 cities and towns in the state over the past few months.  It found that only 23 municipalities -- or about 6.5 percent -- have all key records posted on-line.  Those key records include items such as the community governing body’s agenda, the governing body’s minutes, fiscal year 2006 budget information, the municipality’s bylaws, code or ordinances, and if applicable, town meeting warrant and town meeting results or minutes.    

 

      Remarkably, 67 or 22 percent of the 308 municipalities with some web presence do not have any of the records posted.  If the 43 municipalities that have no internet presence are added to the 67 municipalities that do no post any of the targeted records online, then 36 percent of all Massachusetts municipalities do not post any of their major government public records on the internet.   

 

      The twenty-three municipalities that have posted all of the targeted records on line range in size from Pelham, with a population of 1,422, to Boston, with a population of 569,165.   

 

      “It’s time to bring local government into the 21st century,” said Common Cause executive director Pam Wilmot. “The internet makes it easy and cost effective to facilitate public access and citizen engagement by posting at least these six key records.  More and more people rely on the internet for critical information each day.  Communities that fail to provide that information are providing a disservice to their citizens.”

      

      The Massachusetts Campaign for Open Government will launch a website and release a full report in the next few weeks.  The Campaign hopes to involve hundreds of citizens to petition their local governments to post these key records.  The website will also provide information about public records and open meetings laws and track potential violations.  A simple website has been posted at www.maopengov.org but will be revamped over the next few weeks.


 

About Common Cause Massachusetts

 

Common Cause Massachusetts is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, government watchdog, dedicated to citizen participation in an open, honest, and accountable government. An independent, member-supported organization, Common Cause has more than 200,000 members nationwide and 10,000 in Massachusetts.