Government transparency?
The Observer-Reporter published a colorful newsletter in the June 16 edition called County Connections, and one article was headlined “Greater government transparency.”
Nick Sherman, chairman of the Washington County Board of Commissioners, announced in the article several new initiatives to provide greater transparency and openness. But the Friday edition of the O-R had an article about the hiring of a new assistant operations manager with one commissioner, Larry Maggi, not even knowing who was hired.
In the Sunday edition, the headline of an article stated, “It was secretive.” The county chief of staff, Daryl Price, and the new hire, Joseph Bendik, knew each other from previously working together.
Are these positions required to be posted or advertised, or was it filled to reward a political supporter? If one commissioner didn’t know who the hire was, then when and how was it voted on? This doesn’t sound like government transparency to me.
Bonnie J. Rankin
Burgettstown