EDITORIAL: Want to See Bad Government in Action — Watch the 195 Commission on Zoom

EDITORIAL: Want to See Bad Government in Action — Watch the 195 Commission on Zoom

Regardless if you are a supporter of Jason Fane’s massive residential tower — sure to be the largest privately funded development in Providence in more than two decades, or if you are opposed to the project due to its size and scale, you have to be horrified in how Robert Davis, Chair of the 195 Commission, conducted a critical meeting.

Wednesday's meeting was a make-or-break meeting for the project.

The 195 Commission met almost entirely in closed session, came out of the meeting, closed the minutes of the closed session and returned to open session — all legal and probably unnecessary. Why couldn't the public be allowed to hear what the commission thinks about the issues?

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Then, in open session Davis read of a motion - read it once, it was moved and seconded and approved unanimously. Not a word of public discussion about the elements of the amendments to the agreement between the 195 Commission and the developer.

Davis, who recently retired from a Boston law firm, seems like he may have done a term or two with the Putin administration.

While Zoom offers a tool for public bodies to continue to meet and take action during a pandemic, it should not be the excuse for secret government.

There were significant material issues taken up by the 195 Commission Wednesday about a major economic development project. Supporters and opponents of the project deserve more. They should have heard the discussion.

The developer who has invested millions deserves more.

The public deserves more than closed-door meetings, no discussion and no public documents.