ATHOL — The town has launched a new Web feature allowing visitors direct access to budget, contract and policy documents.
“I firmly believe that the public should have unfettered and direct access to information aside from certain personnel and health records,” said Town Manager Shaun A. Suhoski in a release announcing the change. “When the public is included, and provided the same information as elected and appointed officials, it builds a greater trust in government and a broader base of support for most decisions.”
The “Sunshine Page” button on the Athol homepage at www.athol-ma.gov brings visitors to a page with instructions, a list of attachments to budget and contract documents, and a link to “Athol by the Numbers,” an interactive financial database developed with online vendor Clear.gov.
The database includes snapshots of revenue and expenses, education costs compared to other communities, debt, and further breakdowns of those figures.
Suhoski intends that the page will be updated to display the latest versions of financial or contractual documents. Suhoski wrote that he welcomes questions by email and would rather take the time to share data and rationale than leave it to rumor.