Editor’s Note: Sandy Springs Together periodically publishes letters or comments from community members who raise a concern we feel should be considered by the broader community.
Please let us hear your thoughts.
By Mary Baron
In an earlier blog, I discussed the need, and the best way, to hold our government accountable. Here is the second part of my blog entry!
What Our Local Government is Doing
On May 14, 2019, our city council made the decision to offer full time jobs to 183 contract employees rather than outsource the jobs to private companies. This was a momentous decision since the privatization of services was one of Sandy Springs’ guiding principles since its incorporation.
Why This is a Problem
While the move could save more than $15 million over the next five years, the decision was made without community involvement at an afternoon budget hearing that was not well attended.
While the budget hearing was announced as required by law, almost no one was aware that this issue would be on the agenda.
One resident at the hearing was shocked when she realized what was happening and said afterward, “they changed our premise for creating a city government in a short, perfunctory meeting”.
What Our Government Owes Us
It’s time for transparency in government.
It’s time the government starts including us in decisions that affect us!
Adequate advance notice of meetings and agendas should always be given when important decisions are being made about how our city is run or when city code is being altered.
Addressing and Answering Common Issues in Government Transparency
Attending city council meetings in person can be a hardship for many people who have long work hours or work far from the city. Fighting rush hour traffic or arranging child care to make it to a meeting at 6:00 p.m. on a Tuesday night is very difficult.
I get it, and so should our government.
Though this may seem like making our government transparent to us is a daunting task, these are not valid reasons the government should feel they are able to exclude us from their decision making.
The Simple Solution
All our neighboring cities live-stream their council meetings and post the videos online.
This would be a wonderful improvement to government transparency in our city, and would increase awareness and accessibility tenfold.
Government that is close to home can be more accountable to us if it is easier for us to participate and be heard by our local government.
The Important Role We Play
Keeping our government accountable requires an effort on the part of citizens, like you and me.
The many dedicated activists who advocated for Sandy Springs year after year with the Fulton County Commission and the Georgia Legislature understood that their involvement was important to advancing what they believed would make our community a better place to live. They knew that they had to participate and make their concerns heard.
How to Get Involved
If you would like to be more involved, the best way to start is to be informed.
The city’s website is the primary source for information about city government, meeting notices, agendas, minutes, zoning information, budgets, etc. can all be found there. It also features a calendar of community events, which is helpful.
The city also has a Facebook Page that you can follow to keep up with events, emergency announcements and other news.
In addition, the Sandy Springs Reporter is the local newspaper of record that prints government announcements required by law and reports on city council meetings.
We have a beautiful new city hall in Sandy Springs! Make a point to visit it and attend a city council or zoning meeting that might affect you, because your voice is crucial in making the change you want to see.
Find out who your city councilmember is and reach out by email or phone when you have a concern.
They are your tax dollars being spent, and you have the right to have a say in how YOUR community is governed.
