A Superior Court judge ruled that Monterey County supervisors did not violate the Brown Act, California’s open meeting law, by holding closed sessions to review the performance of the water resources general manager. Officials can conduct job performance evaluations during closed sessions but not set policies or goals. (Monterey Herald, November 18, 2014, by Jim Johnson)
The Whittier Uptown Association and the city won a lawsuit that claimed that the association was subject to the Brown Act. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge found that the association could meet privately so long as it did not act as an advisory capacity to the city council. (Whittier Daily News, November 14, 2014, by Peter Fullam)
Garden Grove is in trouble over a secret settlement made with a former fire chief. The settlement gave the chief a two-years of employment in exchange for his dropping lawsuits against the city. (Voice of OC, November 19, 2014, by Thy Vo)
The Encinitas Union School District again pledged to observe the Brown Act in future proceedings following a secret board of trustees management retreat in Palm Springs. The trustees still did not admit that the retreat violated the rules. (The Coast News, November 19, 2014, by Aaron Burgin)