The city of Crestwood used to be a leader in the state of Missouri when it came to promoting transparent government.

For example, the Board of Aldermen voted in March 2002 to adopt a policy of recording its closed sessions involving litigation and real-estate matters. Crestwood’s policy may be the only one of its kind in Missouri.

But Crestwood is no longer a leader in transparency, as evidenced by the board’s decision last week to reject an ordinance that would have required City Administrator Mark Sime to submit all of the city’s bills to the Board of Aldermen once a month and then post the bills on the city’s website.

Voting in favor of the measure were board President Mike Tsichlis of Ward 4 and Ward 3 Aldermen Paul Duchild and Bill Boston. They should be applauded for their efforts to enhance the city’s transparency.

Opposed were Ward 4 Alderman Mike Vincent, Ward 2 Alderman Mary Stadter and Ward 1 Aldermen Darryl Wallach and Richard Breeding. Ward 2 Alderman Tim Trueblood voted “present.”

We believe a “no” vote on this ordinance was a vote against transparency. While it was disappointing to see so many “no” votes on such a simple and straightforward issue, it certainly wasn’t surprising.

Vincent, appointed to the board last spring, is among the aldermen who believe the city does not have a transparency problem. But that is because he is more content to sweep any hint of controversy under the rug to preserve — in his own words — the good name of the city of Crestwood.

He also employs a unique, hands-off form of governing, saying he implicitly trusts city officials — totally abdicating the responsibilities of the position to which he was appointed.

We suggest he read the forensic audit that was performed in 2003 that led to the restatement of the city’s books for fiscal years 2001 and 2002.

Another good read would be the state audit of the city for fiscal 2003 that was released in 2005.

But perhaps the most disappointing “vote” was Trueblood’s “present.”

We’re disheartened that Trueblood, once a champion of transparent government, declined to take a stand on an issue that he once considered important to the city and its citizens.

We believe it’s a sad day when Vincent, Stadter, Wallach and Breeding allow the city to become a follower instead of a leader when it comes to transparent government.