Keeps the public and Board members in the dark
Commentary
District Governing Board Chair Ray Sigafoos keeps iron-fisted control over the agenda for Governing Board meetings. In doing so, it is the opinion of the Blog that he is preventing the public and the other members of the Governing Board from receiving important information that may affect the public pocketbook and the direction of the College.
Documents obtained by the Blog through public information requests and other sources show the nature and extent of his control.
For example, earlier this year the Chino Valley Town Council asked that it be placed on the College agenda. The Town wanted to share information with the Governing Board about the potential implications to the College should a Speedway be constructed near the College’s Chino Valley Center. Because of the possible location of the Speedway and a 2003 agreement, the District Governing Board held veto power over the project.
Without first discussing the request with the Governing Board at a public hearing before making a decision, Sifoos decided on his own that placing the matter on the College agenda was a bad idea. He drafted and signed a letter stating that “we will not be able to accommodate your request.” The “we” he referred to were the other members of the District Governing Board who knew nothing of the request or his letter. Moreover, they had not authorized such a letter be sent.
It was only after the Chino Valley Town Council received the letter denying their request that Sigafoos casually disclosed to other member of the Board his decision. There never was a vote on this issue.
There are other examples. A number of written requests for items to be placed on the College agenda from at least one member of the Board have been refused by Sigafoos. For example, a request that the Board discuss as an agenda item whether information contained in a letter from the College to a member of the public was leadked from a confidential Board meeting was rejected by Sigafoos. He replied that “this is not a Board issue and Dr. Wills may have more information if needed.”
When a Board member asked to be allowed to “submit a list of [scholarship] questions I would like to be answered” and be placed on the Agenda, Sigafoos replied: “operational issue and can be discussed in applicable monitoring reports.” A similar request that “the total financial picture for the Community Events and Public service” be an agenda item was met by Sigafoos with the same response: “operational issue and can be discussed in applicable monitoring reports.”
Philosopher Alan Bloom said: “Education is the movement from darkness to light.” The Blog says, “Open government is vital in a democracy. All too often, the doors to government are closed.” This is especially true when one person controls an agenda.