Local government agencies in California are still conducting closed meetings that should be open to the public as illustrated by the Emeryville school district whose board met privately with the superintendent and a construction manager to discuss costs of a project. The board later that night voted for $4.5 million worth of bonds to fund the project. (Contra Costa Times, December 4, 2015, by Daniel Borenstein)
A local newspaper in the mountain community of Crestline is challenging the school board for not properly informing the public of a town hall meeting hosted by the board. The board claimed that the state’s open meeting law, the Brown Act, allowed them an exception given that the meeting agenda was a matter of public interest. The meeting concerned a student text on the social media about staging a school shooting. An open meeting expert said the Brown Act applied to the meeting since the school board was the host. (The Alpenhorn, December 4, 2015, by Gail Fry)
A lawyer for the Yermo Community Service District filed a court statement in answer to a lawsuit brought by two former firefighters that charged the district of whistleblower retaliation and Brown Act violations in firing them. The lawyer said the firefighters were volunteers not employees so could be fired without a noticed meeting. (Desert Dispatch, November 30, 2015, by Mike Lamb)
San Bernardino citizens are challenging the city’s failure to report on a vote taken in closed session on the former city manager’s severance pay. (San Bernardino County Sun, November 28, 2015, by Ryan Hagen)
Mindful of the Brown Act, the Malibu City Council dissolve the city’s schools subcommittee. The council said it was becoming too difficult to discuss crucial issues without violating the Brown Act’s provisions for providing agendas well in advance of meetings. (Malibu Surfside News, November 27, 2015, by Chris Bashaw)
Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs announced in the interests of transparent government it would begin adhering to some provisions of the Brown Act including posting agendas 72 hours ahead of meetings and sticking to the agenda. The group says it was not originated by the city, but the city assigned it a staff member. (The Desert Sun, November 24, 2015, by Skip Descant)
Two Hollister citizens are alleging the Hollister School District board violated the Brown Act in failing to conduct their deliberations on an appointment to the board in a public meeting. (Free Lance News, November 12, 2015, by Katie Helland)