According to a press release issued on July 20, Sullivan County is launching a special website today that will publish the minutes of county meetings. In the statement, County Manager David P. Fanslau says that the move is designed as a service for county residents:
“As a service to the citizenry and general public, it is common sense to provide these documents as part of the County’s website that is accessible via the internet, as opposed to requiring citizens to file a FOIL request for these documents,” added Fanslau.
But the Times Herald-Record pointed out last week that the new website was announced right after after the county was accused of being secretly pro-fracking:
Sullivan County will begin posting meeting minutes from county-funded organizations online, a plan announced days after the county's economic development arm was accused of hiding conflicts of interest in promoting a pro-gas-drilling policy ... The transparency of both the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development and Cornell Cooperative Extension was questioned by drilling opponents during the Legislature's June 15 meeting. Bruce Ferguson and Jill Wiener, members of Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy, accused the organizations of using taxpayer money to promote a "pro-drilling agenda."
