NEWPORT COUNTY — The League of Women Voters Newport County (LWVNC) is launching an initiative to attend and monitor public meetings of the city and town councils and school committees throughout the county. 

League members in Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton, Newport, Middletown, and Jamestown have agreed to serve in the LWVNC “Observer Corps” to assure there is transparency, accountability and citizen engagement that supports good government.

“The League of Women Voters has been an active champion of government transparency and accountability since our founding in 1920. It is one of our core principles and a vital part of our mission — that ‘government bodies protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings and making public records accessible,’” the League stated in a press release.

According to the League, Observers will monitor issues that are relevant to the community or to established League positions or the League’s interest. 

Central to the work of the Observer Corps will be monitoring public discussions and votes by the local government bodies to hold public officials accountable for providing adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings and making public records accessible. Observers will monitor governing boards’ procedures and evaluate meeting agendas and discussion.

“The right to know what the government is doing is integral to the health of our democracy,” said Christine Stenning, president of the LWVNC. “Decisions that determine how our schools are run, at what level community programs are funded, and how land in our cities and towns will be used impacts our lives and are vital to our well-being. The public deserves input and oversight. One important way to ensure that is to observe government meetings.”