The Schmidt Open-Government Edict: 'We've Already Decided But We'll Listen Anyway'

In one printed news account, Mayor Schmidt was described as “fit to be tied,” after twice encountering ongoing public outcry from concerned residents and dissension within his own ranks over his “come hell or high water” plan to add the chemical additive zinc orthophosphate to Croton’s highly praised water supply.

One thing is for sure, Mayor Schmidt really blew it. Instead of being “pro-active,” as he described his proposal, he found himself being forced into a hasty public retreat. And so the Republican-led Schmidt administration is now working its way backwards—despite their ad nauseam claims of “moving Croton forward.” After unsuccessfully trying to pass the same resolution at two successive village board meetings, a public information session has finally been scheduled—but on short notice.

In an e-mail to residents who have opted in to receive announcements, the village sent the following brief text with no information on the agenda of the meeting:

“There will be a public information meeting held by the Village Board of Trustees on the proposed corrosion control program for the Village’s water distribution system. This meeting will be held in the Meeting Room of the Stanley H. Kellerhouse Municipal Building at 7:30pm on November 7, 2007.”

However, since the public was thus “notified” about this meeting only five days before the event, and no mention was made that the session will be televised, Crotonblog wonders if the mayor and his cohorts truly seek genuine openness on an issue that has sparked concern among worried residents and attracted the attention of four newspapers, including The New York Times. Just askin’…

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