The ESO news and commentary post of 27 June fulfilled our promise to provide comparative evaluation data for the Web Sites in the nearby counties. We stated that the Board of Supervisors web site is missing many documents, publications, etc. A very short list of some essential missing information was included in that blog.
One of the most important "missing" items is the Publication containing the entire Code of County Ordinances. I started my search at the Essex County Library. They did not have a copy. The helpful staff at our County Administrators Office allowed me read what may be one of the few (?) or only (?) complete copies of the Code of Essex County Ordinances. Perhaps the Constitutional Officers and the Clerks of the Counts may have copies. I have not checked with each of those individuals.
It's not surprising that the Commonwealth of Virginia has published the Code of Virginia (Laws of the Commonwealth) as a searchable online database. What is remarkable, and the Mayor, Town Council, and the staff of the Town of Tappahannock deserve full credit for transparency and open government, is the Town Code of Ordinances are published online at
http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=12438. or there is a link from the Town web site.
It's easy to navigate and fully accessible to the public.
The Code of County Ordinances, along with the Board Agendas and the Board Minutes already exist as printed documents. Future agendas and minutes will undoubtedly be prepared as digital documents which can then be easily uploaded. Any new Ordinances, or changes to existing ordinances, can also be easily uploaded.
The School Board opened their new web site in less than five months. It should be a relatively simple task to place the Code of Ordinances, along with archives for the agendas and minutes, on an improved Essex County web site.
Most importantly, it will significantly improve openness and transparency within Essex County Government.
John Clickener
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