Additional layer is of questionable need

At a fairly well attended City Council meeting in July, five citizens spoke out in well-reasoned arguments against the creation of an expensive, powerful city administrator position which would report only to the mayor and council. No one spoke in favor of it. But the city is moving forward on it.

This position represents an additional layer of government of questionable need, which has the built-in effect of further separating citizens from their elected officials. As layers of government increase, transparency and accountability decrease. In a city whose mayor has already earned a reputation for non-transparency, it is especially troubling.

ROBERT BROWNING

Sandpoint

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