Public Discourse vs. Private Email

 

At the recent 12 August 2026 Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) public meeting a resident's inquiry about meeting procedures was met with a suggestion from the chairman to "send an email" and start a private discourse. Neighbors for Open Government & Accountability (NOGA) characterize this as a tactic to avoid public accountability and on-the-record answers.

Open government requires clear rules about how public officials talk to the people and each other. Public discourse happens in open meetings and public forums where everyone can see and hear the choices made. Private email happens behind closed doors, which can hide important choices from the public eye. 

Public Discourse

• Open to all: Anyone can join meetings, ask questions, and see the facts.
• Builds trust: People know how leaders make choices because the process is clear.
• Follows the law: Public meetings and records must follow rules like the Freedom of Information Act or state sunshine laws.
• Fair input: Gives every community member an equal chance to share ideas.

Private Email

• Hidden from view: Emails on personal accounts are hard for the public or reporters to find.
• Breaks openness: Using private email for official work can break open-government laws.
• Security risks: Personal email systems lack the high security of official government networks.
• Lost history: Private messages get deleted or lost more easily, destroying official public records.

 

Posted on 14 Aug 2026, 01:43 - Category: Open Records/Transparency