Because this information seems to be kept close to the vest, you may not know that there have been 5 people chosen to sit on the Charter Review Commission, which happens every five years. Their job is to look through Whitehall’s charter and determine what, if anything, needs tweaking, changed, etc. (This is how the last questioning of the term limits subject came to the ballot). I have been going to every council meeting since the election and I’ve heard ZERO mentions of this coming up, let alone selections being made. It’s aggravating due to little advanced notice of its coming nor open solicitation for citizens willing to serve. In this, what would otherwise be simply viewed as a group of citizens getting together to improve our charter, and with it Whitehall, (a terrific thing) is instead lent a patina of political suspicion given that it’s a group of people who have been (with little to no public notice) personally hand-picked as worthy by those in political power at City Hall. If those chosen who elect to serve can do so with impartiality in regard to those who chose them and stand firm and independent in their decision-making processes, then that is all any citizen of Whitehall could hope for, and expect.  It is the quiet way they’re selected though which raises my concern, as it should you, and given the track record of some at city hall, the process then begs some amount of scrutiny on yours and my part.

For the record, I asked Clerk of Council Mary Freimark to email me a list of the Whitehall citizens chosen for the Charter Review Commission and after speaking with Council President Jim Graham, he provided her this list:                                                                             Kim Bentley                                                                                                                                             Allyson Sharp                                                                                                                                         Kevin Skinner                                                                                                                                         Jack Soma                                                                                                                                                 Paul Werther                                                                                                                                           Van Gregg- alternate*

They had a preliminary meeting the evening of the 7th to ensure they all agreed to serve and select a time for their first meeting. It is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 26th at 6:30 pm in the Council Committee room which is the smaller meeting room behind the larger council chambers at City Hall. This first meeting they will all be sworn in and given roles (secretary, etc.). I really encourage the citizens to go. This is your government at work. What they talk about, who talks with them about what and what they decide may well have great impact on your lives.

*Jim Graham himself told me about Van Gregg agreeing to be the alternate.