<p>Local governments that lack a lobbying oversight program do not have to merely throw up their hands when a huge procurement matter arises. They have the choice to set rules for that matter which, if it works, may later be applied more generally.<br />
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This is the lesson that comes from the York, Ontario region which, according to <a href="http://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/6159947-newmarket-likely-setting-u…; target="_blank">a recent article in the Newmarket <i>Era</i></a>, is considering rules for a multi-town, ten-year waste contract that should be worth about $100 million.<br />
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The most interesting alternative being considered is prohibiting personal communications with officials by bidders and their lobbyists not only in the ordinary blackout period – during the evaluation and selection process – but also before this period. Instead, bidders and their lobbyists would be permitted to speak publicly to the entire council.<br />
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The article quotes a regional council member saying, "If the point is to be as transparent as possible on a very lucrative contract, one that's had a history of proponents reaching out at various levels of government, I'm confused why we wouldn't have a proponent come and sit in a public forum and [speak before the council] prior to the blackout."<br />
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This is an original approach that small towns and counties should consider in the absence of a lobbying oversight program. In fact, for large matters, this would a policy that all local governments should consider. It could be referred to as "Public Relations."<br />
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Robert Wechsler<br />
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br />
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