EDITORIAL
It’s been said before that communication is the key. Where there is open communication there is less chance that there will be a misunderstanding, or that people will feel disenfranchised, deceived or simply confused.
Mansfield Township has announced a new initiative that could help promote good communication between the township and residents by having several Township Committee members available on the Saturday mornings after meetings to answer questions from residents from 10 a.m. to noon.
Given the difficulties the township has faced in the past year multiple resignations, a large tax hike and a petition to remove a mayor among them improved communication could pave the way to a more smoothly run municipal government that has a better understanding of the needs of its constituents, and a feeling among residents that their concerns are heard.
As the township moves into the portion of the year when the budget is formulated and taxes again become an issue, the committee will have an opportunity to explain the reasons behind specific expenditures or cuts they might not have time to go over during committee meetings.
Last year, taxes in the township went up by 20 cents. The previous year, the former committee had used the surplus to offset a tax increase in that year. Residents who did not attend meetings regularly may have felt that they were caught off-guard by those developments. Now they may be able to get their concerns and questions heard, and hopefully answered, in the informal Saturday morning sessions.
Not everyone is able to attend all or part of the sometimes lengthy Wednesday night meetings and this is an excellent way to make sure that everyone who has questions has a chance to have them heard.
We encourage residents to take advantage of this opportunity if they feel they need more information on an issue, and we encourage other towns to follow suit if they feel there is simply not enough time in a municipal meeting to address every possible question or if they simply feel they are not hearing enough feedback from their residents.

