City officials should prioritize

accountability

Accountability. The American Heritage Dictionary defines it as "liable to being called to account; answerable." It's a concept that should reign in the arena of public service, yet it is all too often absent.

Last Friday, a report to Wasilla police of possible gunshots fired in the city's business district was dropped by dispatch, and it was four hours before the oversight was corrected. Fortunately, no one was injured, and there was no evidence that the noise heard was actually gunfire.

To his credit, Police Chief Don Savage admitted the mistake right away and said the matter was being addressed. But that did nothing to erase some large and lingering questions about the system in place to protect the welfare and property of Wasilla residents.

Those elected to answer those questions and move forward with immediate solutions - the city's mayor and city councilors - "responded" with just enough indifference to force cancellation of Monday night's fortnightly council meeting. Three of the governing body's six members had more pressing business that night. So, lacking a quorum, the meeting could not be held.

Instead, the council was slated to attend to its business last night, in a meeting scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Hardly a convenient time for any members of the public to attend, especially considering the time budgeted for public comments is at the end of a long agenda. Whether this is a concerted effort by the mayor and council to duck a contentious issue is for the residents - and voters - of Wasilla to decide.

City Clerk Kristie Smithers, who has been with the city for eight years, says she doesn't remember another time in her tenure that insufficient attendance has resulted in a canceled council meeting. On its surface, at least, this is an excellent record over the long term. The short term is another matter entirely.

Don't look for any explanation from those involved, though. Deputy Mayor Howard O'Neil, who has missed three of the council's 22 meetings this year, including both of the canceled ones, seems to think he owes no one an explanation for anything.

He has a record of almost unbroken consistency for refusing to return phone calls or e-mails from this newspaper. O'Neil offers opinions only from his throne in council chambers during councilor comments at the end of each meeting. In this context, often acting as the mayor's hatchet man, he can twist, distort and spin his own version of the truth unchallenged.

Councilor Rob Sande, who has missed nearly 25 percent of this year's meetings, was also partially responsible for both canceled meetings. Ironically, in July, he posed a question to the four candidates for a vacant council seat about their ability to honor the time commitment of being a city councilor.

The man who was appointed to that seat, Verdie Bowen, assured those present that the time commitment would not be a problem. Three meetings later - on Monday - he was absent.

Two weeks after being sworn in, Bowen announced he had reconsidered his decision to run for a full term in October, citing the demands of his job as his reason. Since then, he has said that should he get elected anyway, he'll accept the seat. Presumably, then, "accepting the seat" and "serving" are separate issues.

The other members of the City Council are doing much better, attendance-wise. Mark Ewing and Ron Cox both have perfect attendance this year, and Diana Straub, who is challenging incumbent Dianne M. Keller for mayor, has missed just one meeting.

Residents may not always find themselves in agreement with each of these three councilors, but they should at least take comfort in the knowledge that the three are providing diligent - and accountable - service to the city.