Coatesville council President Ed Simpson is promising to make city government transparent. And last Monday's council meeting demonstrated how far he is willing to go to let the public know how the city does its business.

First the paying of the bills was put on the agenda, a first in the city's history. "You can go ahead and pay the electric, telephone and water," Simpson told Finance Director Stacy Bjorhus, "but we want to see all the others first." Since council meets twice a month, Simpson claimed the new policy would not cause any delay in paying vendors.

"Historically, there has been no transparency. A lot of things were discussed privately among certain council members. This new council wants to change that. If its not an executive session matter, it will be discussed openly during the public meeting," Simpson said.

Simpson also wants the new council to examine the $6.2 million budget approved by the previous council at a series of yet-to-be scheduled public budget workshops. "We want to look at the budget line item by line item," he said.

However, Simpson says he is not calling for council to reopen the 2010 budget. "We believe we can reach our goal through a budget amendment," he said. Council, under the Home Rule Charter, has the right to reopen the budget within 45 days of being sworn in.

The need for the budget workshops can under a new listing on the agenda: Discussion Items. Also discussed was a recommendation by Bjorhus to move the the $20-some millionTrust Fund from First National Bank to Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management Inc.

Last Monday night was the first regular council meeting where Simpson was council president.