With just a few exceptions, government has no business denying people access to information. In fact, government should work diligently to make sure people have as much information as possible.

Otisfield’s Board of Selectmen, however, has decided just the opposite. Last week, selectmen voted to limit the ability of the town’s employees and volunteers to access information on the Maine Municipal Association’s Web site.

It seems they’re concerned that pesky snoops might misunderstand some of the information provided by the MMA to its members and cause the town problems. To the contrary, it’s a lack of information and the intent to scuttle both debate and inquiries into town actions that really causes problems.

We’re not talking about filtering out pornography or protecting personal information about town residents. Otisfield is trying to hide manuals that advise municipal governments on how to conduct their business. They don’t want town employees or members of the Town Government Study Committee to know too much about governance.

MMA provides valuable information to its members and offers resources to help in local governance. It appears selectmen would rather keep it off-limits except to the special few that they deem worthy. The town’s new policy also prohibits people from sharing information from the site that they already have obtained.

The town goes so far as to threaten its employees and volunteers with discipline or prosecution for looking at information from the Web site.

Much information about Maine law and good governance is available from other sources. But Otisfield’s selectmen have decided to erect roadblocks, issue threats and limit the debate.