Every two years in December, at the local level, government is in a precarious state - the most dangerous time for taxpayers. Bi-annual Decembers, falling between what are usually tough election seasons and before new officials take office, is a period where politics often overtakes good policy. This is the time that the press and public should be more vigilant than usual.

There are many things to watch. The most obvious source for finding out if unknown changes in policy are occurring is to look at the agendas for meetings. Agendas that all of a sudden spark new discussions and changes of policies may not necessarily be in the public's interest. This is often a time when paid government staffs try to jump start ideas before someone new comes into office, so that it seems too late or costly, to stop what is in progress.

Another item to look for are “midnight appointments,” naming individuals to boards and commissions in the twilight of a term of office. This practice is as old as the republic and just as shady as when it was done by John Adams on the eve of Thomas Jefferson taking over the presidency in 1801.

It is important to watch any government officials who try to slide names across the desks of local elected bodies, prior to the elected official leaving office, or appointed officials trying to pawn off names for boards and commissions that need the approval of the elected, because they are not sure of the new officials who are coming into office.

Often such appointments cannot be stopped when they can be arbitrarily done by outgoing officials. In some cases they do need the approval of a majority of a board and this is no time for such boards to allow them to pass, when they can often wait for successors to make appointments. In either case, there should be vigorous objection to such “midnight appointments.” Often, outgoing elected officials will shy away from such acts, if they know that it will impact their legacy with the public, especially if they want to run again.

Final items worth watching are attempts by officials trying to change procedures, at the last minute, so as to please staff they are leaving behind. This can include items such as changing operating hours (from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., which are convenient for staff, but not taxpayers) or meeting times for governing bodies.

The bottom line is that as government leaders are in transition, it would be best if elected and appointed officials put on hiatus all but the most important and time sensitive items for action. Since government often moves at a glacial pace, this is the time of year to make sure that it continues at that rate.

Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com