Transparency task force will discuss recommendations

One state legislator who is a member of the transparency task force of the state Board of Regents wants the group to recommend that the regents hold public comment time at every meeting.

The task force, appointed by the regents this spring to address transparency issues, meets Wednesday in Des Moines and is scheduled to discuss possible recommendations to the regents. One member, Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Cedar Falls, sent an e-mail to all task force members Tuesday with the recommendations he'd like to see, because he likely will be able to attend only a portion of the meeting by phone.

Danielson recommends all regents meetings have a minimum of 30 minutes for open public comments; that the board require a public process for hiring all staff, including legislative liaison staff; that the regents implement a new conflict of interest/ethics policy that allows for publicly vetting all complaints, including those initiated by the public; and that the regents hold at least four meetings per year in the four Congressional districts outside of where the regents institutions are located.

He also recommends that campus administrative meetings that deal with policy decision making should be open to the public and allow public input.

Danielson on Tuesday said many of the recommendations he'd like the task force to make deal with the board of regents specifically, because he thinks the board can lead by example for the universities on transparency.

"I'm hoping these are recommendations we'll make to the full board," he said.

The transparency task force meets at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Pappajohn Education Center in Des Moines.