The days are long gone when township boards of supervisors have little else to do besides ensuring that roads are maintained and that the municipality's bills are paid.

This is a complicated time for townships when many issues are on elected leaders' plates, whether they be police-related, land-use related, zoning-related, junk-vehicle related, or numerous other issues of residents' interest or concern.

In most townships today, the board of supervisors is made up of people who know they'll be devoting considerably more time to their elected role than attending a meeting or two each month.

But even now, in Butler County's Jackson Township, the mind-set of those earlier, less-busy times has, for the most part, prevailed. However, commendably, that might be changing.

On Jan. 18, the township supervisors held their first work session meeting in several years and discussed ways to change the way they do business.

However, the mood for change wasn't unanimous, with Supervisor Gary Goehring expressing the view that each supervisor has adequate time to review and form an opinion about an ordinance or policy decision in private. He said he had participated in work sessions with previous supervisors and that they mostly were a waste of time.

Perhaps they were, if they weren't conducted with the right attitude about accomplishing something — even though no formal voting can take place if such meetings are not advertised as a special business meeting.

Elected officials in many, if not most, municipalities regard work sessions as indispensable, because they provide the opportunity to brainstorm issues that are complex or not so complex — and to weigh the potential fallout from whatever vote ultimately is forthcoming.

In general, work sessions are an asset for good government — and no effort must be made to keep the public from attending, since residents' best interests are at the center of whatever is discussed.

Regarding confidential personnel issues, discussions can take place by way of executive sessions at the time of regular public meetings.

Jackson Supervisor Roy Huffman, who advocates work sessions, said, "These work sessions give us a chance to sit down and discuss our community, what we want it to be. As it is now, we sit for one hour a month on every third Thursday and talk. I just don't think that's enough."

Meanwhile, newly elected Supervisor Ron Lutz agreed with Huffman's stance, contending that the township has been hindered by some "hideous laws" and bad policy that have hampered the municipality's ability to grow and prosper.

Lutz followed with the interesting comment that the township is overburdened with too many ordinances that "virtually make anyone a criminal for doing anything."

While that might be an exaggeration, Lutz nevertheless made the good point that discussion is the key to enacting good, effective laws and doing away with those that are obsolete or more burdensome than helpful.

Huffman also made the good point that it's time for the supervisors to get on the same page with the township's staff, including public works employees and zoning officials. In municipal government, misunderstandings or lack of relevant information often are at the heart of disagreements.

Every unit of government should review its local laws periodically so, if necessary, they can be updated. And, if there's no intention to enforce an existing law, then there's no reason to have it on the books.

One good point of discussion for a Jackson supervisors work session would be whether local ordinances are being selectively enforced. At the Jan. 18 meeting, Goehring contended that Jackson ordinances concerning zoning and property renovations were being applied to some people but not others.

That is unacceptable.

The proactive approach to government that Huffman and Lutz favor is the right approach. They should make work sessions a regular part of their elected duties, and conduct those sessions in such a way that Goehring also will become convinced of their value.

Too bad it took several years for the current thinking to evolve.

— J.R.K.