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Town halls encouraged

On Saturday, Weirton officials – including Mayor Harold Miller, City Manager Travis Blosser, City Attorney Vince Gurrera, Police Chief Rob Alexander and Ward 5 Councilman Douglas Jackson – met with a group of residents in a town hall.

The meeting was primarily designated to discuss concerns over a recent meth lab discovery in Weirton’s Marland Heights area. It could have been for anything, though.

We applaud the initiative taken by the city to address residents’ concerns on a very important issue, and hope this is only the first of many town hall meetings in Weirton. We also hope other communities take note and make similar efforts.

Public officials, whether elected or appointed, are in place to conduct the business of their city. They serve as the voice of the residents, and, as such, are answerable to them in all matters. It is only fair they periodically provide a way to keep the voters up to date on the events of municipal government.

City council meetings, of course, are open to the public, but sometimes it is better to have a more informal setting to discuss concerns, whether it be a series of drug arrests, traffic issues, business opportunities or the status of local recreational facilities.

Town halls provide an opportunity for a councilman, mayor or other official to hear directly from their constituents. They allow a free-flow of ideas and discussions without the constraints of a formal governmental meeting. They are something we feel should be happening more frequently, and in all of our local communities.

We would encourage city officials, no matter the city or town, to consider organizing such sessions with their residents as often as possible. It creates better connections between officials and residents, and provides for a more open governmental process.

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