In a recent article in the Southtown Star, Orland Park’s Deputy Village Clerk Joe LaMargo confidently proclaimed
“We would like to get the first 100 percent” from the institute.
Ever since the Local Transparency Project was developed in early 2010, no government entity has had the distinction of garnering a perfect score.
But that might change due to the pragmatic actions of the Village of Orland Park. The Orland Park Patch reports that Orland Park’s Technology, Communication and Community Engagement Committee recently met to discuss the Institute’s ten-point transparency checklist.
To improve transparency for taxpayers, the village will adopt a checklist created by the Illinois Policy Institute, an independent research group that makes public policy recommendations.
During the meeting, Village Trustee James Dodge spoke about the expected benefits from making Orland Park more transparent.
“Our reason for doing this is not so much for cost-savings from not having to do endless FOIAs. It’s to get the information out there so the people looking for it can get it without having to complete a FOIA.”
. . . .
“Dodge said he was thrilled about making public information, some of which is already on the village website, easier to find.”
Deputy Clerk Joe LaMargo also states that the village plans on providing additional information about the FOIA process as well.
The village also plans to post monthly compilations of FOIA requests from the public and media, including stats on how quickly the village responded to the information request.
Discussions about online transparency were done in tandem with the Village Board mulling the idea of purchasing iPads so that unnecessary paperwork can be eliminated and printing and environmental costs could be minimized. This cost cutting measure would also enable board packets to be put online. Previously, the board packets, which regularly number in hundreds of pages, were printed and hand delivered by Village staff.
Village Manager Paul Grimes has said that iPads would save $3,600 a year in paper expenses.
Not only is proactive online transparency a way to allow citizens to become educated and hold their legislative bodies accountable, comprehensive transparency allows local government to cut costs and increase efficiencies.