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The board that conducted the search for a new chief was dominated by politicians. In addition to Clark, who has spoken in favour of greater transparency during his dozen years on council, veteran councillors Darren Hill and Mairin Loewen also serve on the board, along with two unelected residents.

Photo by Greg Pender / Saskatoon StarPhoenix

We expect veteran politicians to always opt for greater transparency, but the logic that suggests revealing the number of candidates will somehow compromise privacy is baffling to anyone.

The secrecy is likely more clumsy than sinister, but it raises uncomfortable questions about the competency of the board and its commitment to transparency.

The makeup of the board just changed, too. At the start of this month, two unelected residents were added to the board, reducing politicians on the board to a minority.

Coun. Randy Donauer raised apt concerns last year about changing the board since unelected board members are less accountable to the public.

It did not take long for accountability concerns to surface, even though it appears to have nothing to do with the reconfigured board.

Photo by (Morgan Modjeski/The Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

In addition to withholding basic information on its search for a new police chief, the board also altered its meeting times.

The board voted to move its monthly public meetings from noon to 4 p.m. This move was made ostensibly to accommodate board members, although neither of the two new members attended in person.

The new time seems sure to hinder news coverage of the meetings, particularly with broadcast media serving 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts.

A single journalist attended the first such meeting, although the agenda was admittedly not a barn-burner. Unlike city council and committee meetings, police board meetings are not broadcast with the video available for later viewing.

For those attending police board meetings, it is often difficult to hear those speaking.

Surely a city hall with a $1-billion budget can solve such small technical issues, but you first need a police board that values transparency.

ptank@postmedia.com

twitter.com/thinktankSK