The process behind a recent Lewiston Planning Board appointment has highlighted the need for further transparency in municipal government.

The procedural move during the March 15 meeting to suspend the rules and add a nomination to the Planning Board was a premeditated effort to subvert the mayor and his power of appointment, installing a self-selected candidate the public wasn’t able to weigh in about. The people of Lewiston deserve better than 11th-hour rules suspensions, lacking public notice and input.

The point of procedural rules is to preserve the voice of the minority — not to diminish or eliminate debate on important topics. The use of the rules to effectively silence the public is a terrible use of procedure, especially given the standing rules this council unanimously adopted at the start of its term. Those rules included things like “agenda items must be submitted . . .  the week prior to the meeting” and “avoid gotcha moments.”

As a two-term councilor, I regularly worked with constituents on a variety of issues and concerns. I wanted to know what they thought and how the city could help. I made certain there was opportunity for the public to weigh in on matters affecting them.

A majority of the current council seems to have decided notice and conversation aren’t important or worthwhile to them. We as a community should pay careful attention and continue to challenge their backdoor tactics.

I thank Mayor Carl Sheline and Councilors Stephanie Gelinas, Scott Harriman and Linda Scott for their comments against this action.

Alicia Rea, Lewiston