Government Shuts Out the People

The job of elected officials at any level of government is, at its core, simple: govern wisely in the public’s name, keep the people informed and listen to them.

That it’s so simple makes it all the more infuriating when government officials can’t grasp the concept. Just look to recent incidents in Bedford County and the Town of Appomattox, and you’ll find government that’s veared off the tracks.

First up are the members of the Bedford County School Board.

Facing a huge budget deficit of more than $7 million, Superintendent Douglas Schuch presented the board a proposal to lay off 124 full-time employees and, most controversially, close two elementary schools: Thaxton and Body Camp.

On Feb. 25, the board held a public hearing on the budget proposal, and the auditorium of the Bedford Science & Technology Center was packed with hundreds of county residents. Dozens had signed up to speak to the budget and the proposed layoffs, school closures and pay cuts.

The public hearing — the sole opportunity for concerned citizens to address school leaders — lasted a mere 55 minutes. The board turned away many county residents who wanted to speak to them about the drastic cuts.

The board’s curtailing of public discussion of the county school budget is inexcusable, for whatever reason. It is the job of the elected board members to listen to the people and to take into account all they have to say, especially on a topic as controversial as school closures and teacher layoffs.

Did board members believe the comments were getting redundant? Did they look at the clock and arbitrarily turn off the microphones in slavish devotion to an arbitrary time limit delineated in the agenda? Did they look at their watches and simply decide they wanted to get home at a decent hour?

It doesn’t matter; they were wrong to shut down the comment period. They should take a refresher course in what it means to be a public servant.

Now, to the members of the Appomattox Town Council.

Word emerged earlier this week that Town Manager Bart Van Nieuwenhuise had been placed on administrative leave without pay for eight days.

Mayor Paul Harvey confirmed the reports for The News & Advance on Wednesday but refused to provide any reason for the action, saying it was a “personnel issue.” It’s also unknown when Van Nieuwenhuise was placed on leave.

Van Nieuwenhuise has been on the job in Appomattox less than a year.

When Town Council met Monday night, they went into closed session to discuss personnel issues, but took no action in open session later, as required by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

Council members are keeping mum about the matter, as is their attorney, Frank Wright.

Politicians love to conduct their business behind closed doors, out of the public’s sight.

True public servants know better.

They know they’re in office only to serve the public, to do their jobs honorably, openly and humbly.

It’s too bad that’s a lesson the politicians in Bedford and Appomattox have failed to grasp.