Local governments may face stricter open record law
Kelsey Landhuis
Issue date: 1/29/09 Section: News
"Only those involved that should properly be in the closed meeting should be in the closed meeting," Jones said. "Otherwise, the governmental body could be discussing business that should be in the public but they're only discussing it to certain members of the public that they may hand-select."
Adair County Clerk Sandra Collop said closed meetings of the County Commission don't occur very often.
"There are around … 21 different reasons a commission can close a meeting to the public," Collop said. "And if the matter falls under those guidelines then the meeting will be closed, but that's very rarely that that happens."
Collop said the County Commission is in open session Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., other than the rare occasions when a matter falls under Sunshine Law guidelines for closed meetings.
"Of course, the public is welcome to come in at any time and discuss matters," Collop said. "We do have people who make appointments ahead of time so the commission will be sure to set that time aside for that."
Collop said typically she sends out a notification Wednesday or Thursday afternoon of the commission's agenda for the next week.
Kirksville City Clerk Vickie Brumbaugh said she notifies the public 24 hours in advance of City Council meetings in accordance with the current Sunshine Law, and that the Council takes the 24-hour notice rule into consideration when scheduling special sessions.
"At their study session on Monday, the Council decided to hold a special meeting on Tuesday, and taking into consideration the 24 hours' notice, they scheduled it so I had time to get that notice out," Brumbaugh said.
HB 316 states that if the notification period for matters requiring five days' notice is not adhered to, discussion of the issue must be postponed and the government body cannot vote on it for at least 30 days.
Adair County Clerk Sandra Collop said closed meetings of the County Commission don't occur very often.
"There are around … 21 different reasons a commission can close a meeting to the public," Collop said. "And if the matter falls under those guidelines then the meeting will be closed, but that's very rarely that that happens."
Collop said the County Commission is in open session Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., other than the rare occasions when a matter falls under Sunshine Law guidelines for closed meetings.
"Of course, the public is welcome to come in at any time and discuss matters," Collop said. "We do have people who make appointments ahead of time so the commission will be sure to set that time aside for that."
Collop said typically she sends out a notification Wednesday or Thursday afternoon of the commission's agenda for the next week.
Kirksville City Clerk Vickie Brumbaugh said she notifies the public 24 hours in advance of City Council meetings in accordance with the current Sunshine Law, and that the Council takes the 24-hour notice rule into consideration when scheduling special sessions.
"At their study session on Monday, the Council decided to hold a special meeting on Tuesday, and taking into consideration the 24 hours' notice, they scheduled it so I had time to get that notice out," Brumbaugh said.
HB 316 states that if the notification period for matters requiring five days' notice is not adhered to, discussion of the issue must be postponed and the government body cannot vote on it for at least 30 days.
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