February 16, 2011
I am opposed to requiring that citizens who are appointed to community boards be designated as Municipal Advisors and be subject individually to registration and regulation. I believe this will negatively impact the pool of citizens willing to serve their communities, not to mention the colossal task and potential "red tape" created in managing such a database. Generally, people serving on community boards are, in fact, being advised by professionals as the boards debate and set policy. These volunteers are often appointed by elected officials and subject to the same open meetings laws, public record laws, and code of ethics as entities governed by elected officials. The proposed rules confuse appointed officials roles, suggesting that appointed board members, who should be among the intended beneficiaries of municipal advisor regulation, are "municipal advisors" themselves.
Thank you for your consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald Dicklich
St. Louis County Auditor-Treasurer