Council's Continuing Failure to Tape Meetings Hurts Troy Residents

Troy - The Democratic majority of the Troy City Council is failing to keep Troy residents informed due to their refusal or inability to videotape Council meetings, said Troy Republican Chairman Tom Casey.

The meeting tonight will be the fourth meeting the City Council Democrats have failed to videotape. The Council is responsible for videotaping meetings, a practice started in 2004 when Time Warner stopped videotaping meetings. Under the current arrangement, videotapes of the meetings are supposed to be provided by the Council to Time Warner for subsequent broadcast.

Many Troy residents depend on the broadcasts of the meetings to stay informed, noted Casey. Republican Councilman Mark Wojcik raised the issue late in 2008, asking the Council to once again begin taping the meetings.

"The Democratic Council is failing to keep Troy residents informed by failing to tape Council meetings for broadcast. It is shameful that they have decided not to tape the meetings, especially after pledging they would keep the public informed about the work of the Council," said Casey.

"Troy residents have a basic right to be kept informed about the decisions made at Council meetings. Council meetings were always taped when Republicans held the majority and it is stunning Council Democrats have failed in this seemingly simple task," added Casey.

The failure to videotape the meetings is just the latest campaign promise broken by Council Democrats. Casey said he believes Democrats have decided not to tape meetings in an attempt to hide their numerous failings since taking the Council majority in 2008.

"I believe Democrats are deliberately not taping the meetings so they can keep Troy residents in the dark about the constant chaos and controversy that has marked the Democrat's time in the council majority. The Democrats clearly do not want residents to see what really goes on at the meetings," added Casey.