Tri-Cities Talk: Should Applications For City Appointments Be Made Public?

Welcome to Tri-Cities Talk—a feature in which we ask our Facebook fans to share their views on current issues facing Geneva, Batavia and St. Charles.

Every week, we get the conversation started by taking a look back at a question we asked the Tri-Cities community the week before on local Patch Facebook pages.

The city appointment process has been on the minds of many local residents lately, as discussions about mayoral appointments are ongoing in Geneva and following the mid-June appointment of Third Ward Alderman Todd Bancroft in St. Charles. That brings us to this week's question.

Should applications for city appointments be made public, or are there benefits to keeping them private?

Take a look at what people had to say and join the conversation in the comments section. 

Donna Campbell: Sure should, what is to hide... — Batavia Patch Facebook

Colin Campbell: My understanding is that some of the alderpersons would like to have a larger role in the process of selecting the people to be appointed since they do have to vote on them. It seems to me that appointing people to paid or volunteer positions is still a personnel matter which is generally worked out in closed session before coming to a public meeting. Thus, the full council can be fully informed on the applicants several weeks in advance, the Council can discuss it in closed session and when a consensus is reached the final vote can be held in a public session. The names of the unsuccessful candidates need not be made public. — Geneva Patch Facebook

Shawn Duran Campbell: Yes I think they should be public. — St. Charles Patch Facebook

Jennifer Murphy Rapp: Yes Yes Yes. — Batavia Patch Facebook

Edward C. Amery: There's strength in numbers. ie, the more applicants, the better the selections! — Geneva Patch Facebook

Andy Mareska: Yes; absolutely. — Batavia Patch Facebook

Scott Dennin: Yes! — Batavia Patch Facebook

So what do you see as the pros and cons of the issue? Tell us in the comments. 

CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT YOUR NEIGHBORS HAD TO SAY IN PAST TRI-CITIES TALKS.