This week is Sunshine Week in Pennsylvania. It has nothing to do with the weather, but it has everything to do with the promotion of good government. This observance underscores the necessity of freedom of information and open government.

This is the 13th year that Sunshine Week is being observed. It was begun by the American Society of Newspaper Editors and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

Revered CBS-TV anchor Walter Cronkite said, “Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy; it is democracy.”

During Sunshine Week, it is a fitting time to call your attention to an important bill to help residents be more aware of their local governments in action. This bill was introduced by state Rep. Jim Christiana R-Beaver, but it has been languishing in the State Government Committee for more than nine months.

This bill would broaden the steps that officials take to give those attending agency meetings background, context and a blueprint of what the meetings are all about. Christiana’s bill would acknowledge that we are living in the 21st century by requiring an agency with a publicly accessible internet website to post the meeting agenda no later than 24 hours in advance of the convening of the meeting.

The agency would also have to post the agenda, including a listing of each matter that will be coming up for consideration, along with a time and a location for the meeting.

This bill would compel the agency to make copies of the agenda available to members of the public so they can follow along and understand what is occurring at meetings.

Here is the most interesting part of Christiana’s bill: Unless it is an emergency, the agency cannot take official action on any ordinance or legislation that was not included in the official meeting notification and agenda. In other words, this is intended to prohibit officials from sneaking something over on the public.

The media and taxpayers fight a never-ending battle with municipalities, school boards, counties and other public bodies to try to get information.

The state’s Right to Know Law, which has been in existence for nearly 11 years, was hailed when it was passed by legislators and signed by then-Gov. Ed Rendell as a new beginning in openness.

The courts have recognized that the public’s right to know what their government is doing is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, a democracy cannot function without government transparency and the ability of the people to hold elected and appointed officials accountable.

Elected officials know what is expected of them, but too often they engage in cat-and-mouse games with the public. There are too many officials who view the public and the news media as annoyances, a necessary evil, if you will, rather than as partners in good governance.

Times News staff writers gave a sampling of information about how municipalities and school districts are handling the issues of notification and agenda-posting on their beats.

Judy Dolgos-Kramer said Penn Forest Township posts agendas before meetings, and minutes are posted online within a month of approval; Kidder Township posts agendas before meetings and minutes are posted online within a month of approval; Eldred Township posts minutes within four to six weeks after approval, but does not post agendas; Chestnuthill Township posts agendas and minutes after minutes are approved; Polk Township posts no agenda online and posts minutes a month after approval; the Pleasant Valley School Board posts agendas two days before board meetings and posts minutes after approval; and the Monroe County Commissioners post agendas and meeting minutes.

Jarrad Hedes says the Palmerton School Board usually posts agendas several days before regularly scheduled meetings, but its most recent set of minutes was posted last October; the Lehighton School Board posts agendas no later than the morning of the board meeting.

Terry Ahner says the Northern Lehigh School Board posts its agendas in advance; the Tamaqua School Board, Lehighton Borough Council and West Penn, Rush and Walker townships do not.

We encourage support for Christiana’s bill, and during Sunshine Week, we urge all elected officials to not only uphold the letter of the Sunshine Act but also its spirit.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com