First there was the city manager's disappearing act with no one talking and the manager's subsequent agreement to leave with no explanation. His formal departure took place under a veil of secrecy with the city manager and the council agreeing to part company and not reveal why.

Now comes the mysterious vote to keep an unnamed commissioner from advancing to the chairmanship. Why?

Those who know aren't saying and a majority of the council abstained because, frankly, they didn't know what the mayor was talking about.

The problem with this council isn't necessarily the decisions it's making but the way it's going about making them.

This shroud of secrecy this council seems to be working under is making them appear unprofessional and inept.

Asking the council to vote on a motion without explaining clearly what they were voting on, actually made the council look foolish. Then asking the public to comment on this same issue without explaining it, in effect, made a mockery of open public debate.

And there's a disturbing corollary to this secretiveness that goes beyond council chambers—people are saying they are afraid to say anything publicly for fear of reprisals by the council.

The danger here is that the council appears controlling, calculating and vindictive.

If this council wants the public trust it needs reflective and thoughtful deliberation about real issues. And the secrecy has got to go.

The public must know what the council is thinking, doing and planning and why. The public needs to be free to express opinions for or against council's actions even make statements about particular council members without fearing reprisal.

This is democracy in action.

Healthy and open dialogue form the underpinnings of democracy. The citizens of Sunnyvale deserve nothing less.