Position Paper - Donald C. "DON" Gage Candidate Division II

By Donald C "Don" Gage

Information and meetings of The District should be much more open to the public.

A Special District should therefor be: The most efficient. — The most open. — The most responsive. — Form of government we have, as it is community oriented and governed.

NORMWD should encourage local involvement by the residents of the District.

NORMWD should hold Board of Directors Meetings in the early evening, not at 4:30 in the afternoon, so as to facilitate attendance by residents.

NORMWD Board Meeting should be open to the public except where information being discussed is regarding ongoing or potential litigation.

NORMWD Board Meetings should be open to the public even when personnel matters are being discussed, including salaries and benefits, except for a few situations where such open discussion could prejudice the employee in the future.

NORMWD should encourage employees to live geographically within or, as near to the district as suitable and appropriate housing can be found. Most employees are on call 24 hours a day, in case of emergency. Response time could be a major factor. Naturally there is a need to take into account special needs with respect to cost of housing, schools, medical care and the like. If employees lived within the District, this would further involve them in this form of government and in the community they serve. This would further provide that the employees would then have a very personal interest in the community, it's economy and the efficient operation of the District

NORMWD should provide to all residents annually, a one page simple understandable financial statement, showing where operating and capital funds came from and how they were used.

NORMWD should provide notice to district residents of when Board of Director meetings are to be held. In this regard, most of the media (Radio Stations, TV Stations and Newspapers) have community billboards available at no cost, as a public service.

Most the information noted above is available if a resident is willing to make a formal request for it and pay any costs for reproduction of documents requested.

My point is that it should not be that difficult to know or find out what the Governmental Body, that is serving you, is doing and how they are spending your money. The District should be operated as efficiently as you would your own business, as it really is.