Springfield’s City Council have approved an ordinance that will lead to more public disclosure of city residents’ parking and trash violations – but have tabled an ordinance that would have disclosed more information about their own business interests and political donations.
Both ordinances were proposed by Mayor Jim Langfelder and Alderman Joe McMenamin, who said they wanted to shine more light on city government operations.
Voting was already underway on the trash and parking ordinance when Alderman Ralph Hanauer tried to table it, but his motion was too late, and the ordinance passed.
Hanauer was successful in tabling the ordinance on disclosure of business deals and donations for elected officials and candidates; he says he wanted to leave those proposals up to the next City Council, which will be seated in a few weeks.
