Letter: Thomson board needs openness

I find it curious that the city of Cloquet has embraced “openness” by instituting “live” CAT-7 broadcasts to the public in an effort for more public participation and transparency in local government. I applaud them.

On the contrary, the Thomson Township Board of Supervisors, on March 7, entertained a motion by one of its more progressive members, Jason Paulson, to also record and televise its meetings on CAT-7, as the township is a member of the cable access channel. The motion was not even seconded after discussion concluding that it could “quell” public participation.

In the last four or so years, I have attended roughly 50 percent of the town’s regular board meetings. At all meetings I have attended, I am the only “citizen” in attendance at least 95 percent of the time. So how is televising the meetings supposed to “quell” citizen participation? Pine Knot editor Jana Peterson can and has independently verified this statement of mine previously in conversation with board supervisor Paulson in which she asked how many citizens have regularly attended the board meetings and Paulson answered, “One. John Bergman.”

I might add that Paulson also proposed (with my previous consent after asking me, but, without my specific knowledge of that meeting’s proposal as I was not at that meeting) that I be appointed to one of the two open positions on the CAT-7 board. That motion was tabled until the township could clarify that there are openings — to the best of my knowledge, as of right now, the township still has not yet followed up for any further action.

I suggest the town board rethink its collective attitude toward governmental “openness.” And I strongly encourage other citizens’ direct involvement in township affairs: That is your only say.

John Bergman, Thomson Township