What’s the deal with community councils?

To the editor:

Do other community council boards in the Mat-Su Borough meet privately?

I reside in the Buffalo/Soapstone Community Council area — the area right next to the Usibelli/Wishbone Hill Coal Mine project. Contrary to assurances made before our last election, the board has made it a practice to hold meetings and conduct business without notice to the general community.

I confess that I have not paid close attention to the practices of community council boards over the many years that I have resided in the Mat-Su Borough, but it seems counterintuitive (and counterproductive) for a community council board to meet behind closed doors. It seems even more odd to continue this practice despite repeated requests from community members to be kept in the loop about board meetings.

Just wondering if this is a common practice in other areas.

Krista Maciolek

Palmer