CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Increasing transparency and accountability in the Clarksburg city government is the main focus of a proposal from Clarksburg resident Mike Keifer II, who would like to see charter amendments added to the Clarksburg City Charter focusing on those topics.
The “Sunshine Laws” are laws that require transparency and accountability, and Keifer has a three-pronged approach to his proposal.
“Recalls elected officials, referendum on city ordinances, and the ability to put an ordinance on the ballot as an initiative,” Keifer said during the MetroNews-affiliated “The Mike Queen Show” on the AJR News Network.
In addition to recalls, referendums, and initiatives, Keifer believes more financial transparency is paramount to a more efficient city government.
“We’ve been delving pretty deep into some of the city’s finances and some of the areas where we don’t necessarily think they are doing the best they can,” he said. “We’d like to see public expenditures be a matter of public record.”
Additionally, the group would like to see a public access channel broadcast city council meetings.
“While the proceedings are open to the public, a large portion of the Clarksburg populace can’t take advantage of that,” Keifer said. “The elderly, the disabled, you don’t have child care, or any other legitimate reason for just not being able to make the meeting, but you still want to keep up with what’s going on in the city. I think we need to bring the city into the modern age, like many other cities and board proceedings, and broadcast.”
Mayor Cathy Goings and some of the other council members have expressed an interest in a work session for charter amendments.
“They want to put together a two-day work session to work on charter amendments,” he said. “I think it’s great. I think it should get done, but I have my doubts because that’s what I was told seven months ago whenever I brought this up first.”