From the Fayetteville Observer (2/25/12): There's a point at which government's responsibility to inform the public meets the public's responsibility to seek out information.
“It’s always a balancing act,” said Gordon Whitaker, a professor of public administration at the University of North Carolina School of Government. “How much information is enough?”
The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners grappled with that question during its annual retreat this month.
“There are a few people who are interested in our government and are interested in what we do, but there’s a lot of people that could care less as to what we do,” Commissioner Kenneth Edge said. “I wish the public would become more involved and more aware of what our issues are, because maybe they would understand them better.”
The board’s policies comply with the state’s open records laws, and in many cases do more than is necessary. The twice-monthly meetings are televised. Paper copies are available of the agendas and minutes, which also are posted online.