Back into the shadows | IN OUR OPINION

At the start of the new year, members of the Bainbridge Island City Council members have been keen to hear the public offer their opinions on everything from how the city’s rebuilt dock should be designed to the city’s vision for growth to even whether dogs should be kept on a leash in public.

January 10, 2015 5:36 pm

At the start of the new year, members of the Bainbridge Island City Council members have been keen to hear the public offer their opinions on everything from how the city’s rebuilt dock should be designed to the city’s vision for growth to even whether dogs should be kept on a leash in public.

But when it comes to advice on the person who should be picked to fill the vacant Central Ward council seat — not so much.

The Bainbridge council will appoint a new council member from a field of six candidates at a special council meeting on Thursday, Jan. 15 at city hall.

City officials announced this week, however, that there will be no opportunities for public comment during the meeting.

City spokeswoman Kellie Stickney said the process for appointing a council person is dictated by state law, and said it would be “inappropriate” for the council to take public comment at the meeting.

The public will be able to comment and directly influence the composition of the council, she said, during the November election.

Regardless, the city’s decision to shut out the public is a shame, and a disappointment.

True, it might be a tad uncomfortable for the council to be pressed in public to pick one candidate over another during the upcoming meeting. And also true, the law on council appointments doesn’t include a requirement that the public be allowed to comment on the council’s choice during the meeting where the appointment vote will be taken.

But with this week’s decision — and the city wouldn’t say who made the call, it should be noted — it’s doubtful that council members will be shielded from attempts by islanders who want to lobby for their personal preference.

Instead, that input will go on behind the scenes, in private. What’s said there, in the shadows, we may never know.

Just as bad, residents won’t be allowed to even address the basic qualifications, skills and virtues they want to see in the city’s next and newest council member at next week’s meeting — with no names attached.

Letter of the law aside, this is a bad decision by the folks at city hall.