EDITORIAL: WCC Televised Meetings

WASHTENAW COMMUNITY COLLEGE Board of Trustees President Richard Landau was recently quoted in the media as saying that televised broadcasts of the community college’s Board of Trustee meetings are a “silly” idea and “a product no one has ever said they want.” Trustee Landau’s assertion is misguided that taxpayers need to clamor for transparency on the part of governing bodies that oversee the expenditure of public money.

Among the three reformer trustees recently elected to the WCC Board is David DeVarti. Trustee DeVarti has spoken repeatedly in support of televising the Board’s monthly meetings. His idea is a sound one and in the best interests of the taxpayers, as well as WCC faculty, staff and students.

In the age of digital journalism, livestreamed and live Tweeted public meetings, the very least WCC’s Board of Trustees can do to foster openness and transparency is to see that the group’s monthly meetings are televised. Ann Arbor’s public access Community Television Network (CTN) has offered to facilitate the broadcast of the Board of Trustees’ meetings.

If Trustee Landau finds transparency silly, he should keep in mind that he and his elected colleagues are entrusted with over $45 million in public money generated by a county-wide millage. The AAPS, AAATA, Ann Arbor City Council, Washtenaw County Commissioners and Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority all televise their public meetings. We applaud Trustee DeVarti’s initiative and see the suggestion as in the best interest of the public.