Joe DeBartolomeo was Weirton’s city manager for only about six months, but he leaves a lasting, extremely positive impression on other municipal officials.

DeBartolomeo has left the city manager’s position, to take advantage of another job opportunity. What is interesting about tributes paid him is that most focused on transparency, on keeping the mayor and city council members “in the loop.”

“He lays it all out in the open,” said Mayor Harold Miller.

“We’ve been told everything,” chimed in Councilman George Ash, adding, “In my opinion (DeBartolomeo) showed this council how it’s supposed to work.”

Councilman Enzo Fracasso agreed, noting he often receives as many as a dozen email messages from DeBartolomeo, early in the morning.

All that says something about DeBartolomeo ­– and it is a lesson to others in government. Full, active transparency is an excellent policy.

Too bad the type of it practiced by DeBartolomeo seems to be unusual enough to be singled out for praise…