A couple of weeks ago, our editorial board was critical of the Monroe Common Council's decision to use a facilitator in the process of determining which two of five applicants would receive Class B liquor licenses. We felt that bringing in an outside party, no matter how talented, reduced the element of accountability among council members in the process and set a bad precedent. To a great extent, that concern played out last week when the council made its decision.
With a unanimous vote, Monroe aldermen approved granting licenses to Barrett's Brick Cafe and Fiesta Cancun Authentic Mexican Restaurant. With that vote, the only one on the record, aldermen essentially confirmed the outcome of the facilitation process. It was during that process when the actual decisions were made. And they were not made on the record.
Aldermen made their votes by placing unmarked stickers on a board. That is how aldermen decided which two businesses would receive the licenses, and which would not. By the time an actual official vote was recorded, the council merely was approving the chosen two applicants.
It is important, in any vote by elected public officials, that individual decisions be public record. That's the only way to hold aldermen accountable. That did not happen in this case, and it sets a bad precedent.
Times reporter Tere Dunlap had nine of 10 aldermen tell her how they voted in two "straw polls" that determined the two license recipients. One alderman, Neal Hunter, did not return repeated calls. Five aldermen told the Times they voted for Fiesta Cancun in the first tally, though only four stickers were shown during the meeting. There still is not a complete, accurate account of how each of the city's 10 aldermen voted. There may never be. That's a disservice to the public.
Is it a big deal that no one knows for sure how each of the aldermen voted on the five applicants for a liquor license? Not necessarily. But it will be if it begins to happen with any regularity in the Monroe Common Council.
We're glad that aldermen think having a facilitator was helpful, as most indicated after the fact. In the future, we'd prefer aldermen make sure that any vote they take be on the record.
With a unanimous vote, Monroe aldermen approved granting licenses to Barrett's Brick Cafe and Fiesta Cancun Authentic Mexican Restaurant. With that vote, the only one on the record, aldermen essentially confirmed the outcome of the facilitation process. It was during that process when the actual decisions were made. And they were not made on the record.
Aldermen made their votes by placing unmarked stickers on a board. That is how aldermen decided which two businesses would receive the licenses, and which would not. By the time an actual official vote was recorded, the council merely was approving the chosen two applicants.
It is important, in any vote by elected public officials, that individual decisions be public record. That's the only way to hold aldermen accountable. That did not happen in this case, and it sets a bad precedent.
Times reporter Tere Dunlap had nine of 10 aldermen tell her how they voted in two "straw polls" that determined the two license recipients. One alderman, Neal Hunter, did not return repeated calls. Five aldermen told the Times they voted for Fiesta Cancun in the first tally, though only four stickers were shown during the meeting. There still is not a complete, accurate account of how each of the city's 10 aldermen voted. There may never be. That's a disservice to the public.
Is it a big deal that no one knows for sure how each of the aldermen voted on the five applicants for a liquor license? Not necessarily. But it will be if it begins to happen with any regularity in the Monroe Common Council.
We're glad that aldermen think having a facilitator was helpful, as most indicated after the fact. In the future, we'd prefer aldermen make sure that any vote they take be on the record.
