The state’s Open Meetings Act is pretty straightforward on the obligation of public bodies to meet in public.

That was reinforced this week when a judge ruled that the city of Columbus can’t hold split meetings of its city council to avoid open meetings requirements.

Columbus has six council members, and they were meeting in private in groups of three to discuss retail development and renovations. The city argued that since there wasn’t a quorum present (fewer than four), the meetings weren’t required to be held in public.

“Significant to the court is that the city admits that the mayor and other officials met with a quorum of the council on the days in question but divided into groups with less than a quorum of the council so the public could be excluded,” the judge wrote.

Splitting up to avoid a quorum just so the meetings could take place out of view of the public is a disservice to the very public that funds the government.

Too often, government bodies seek to act in the public’s best interest outside of the view of the same public. That sort of “trust us, we know what’s best for you” attitude is shameful and flies in the face of democracy.

Government officials are elected and hired to do the work of the people, not hide their work from the people. Government — at all levels — is at its best when it is open and transparent. The people not only deserve to know how the government is conducting its business, they have a right to know.