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A&A: Closed Sessions under the Brown Act

firstamendment June 13, 2009

Closed Sessions under the Brown Act Q: The Situation: the Board of Education for a local district meets in closed session without any prior notification to the public. It makes a personnel decision during that closed session and announces it to the public. Question: Is the unannounced closed session meeting in accordance with Brown Act or any other law?  If not, what are the legal ramifications of that meeting? A: The Brown Act recognizes a

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A&A: Union representatives in closed labor negotiations

firstamendment June 13, 2009

Union representatives in closed labor negotiations Q: Is it legal, and if so, which code can I refer to, to ask the teachers’ union president to come into our closed session under labor negotiations to give us a report only on what is being negotiated?  My reason for this is that we do not receive all the information from our negotiation team for the district so we are looking for a way to have the

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A&A: Identifying self while making public comment

firstamendment June 13, 2009

Identifying self while making public comment Q: Does a member of the public have to identify themselves before commenting?  Can they be refused if they do not? A: The Brown Act provides that “[e]very agenda for regular meetings shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the legislative body on items of interest to the public that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body.”  Ca. Govt. Code Section

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A&A: Objecting to agenda item during meetings

firstamendment June 13, 2009

Objecting agenda item during meetings Q: Our Board of Supervisors is playing fast and loose with the Brown act, specifically adding items to the agenda that don’t even come close to meeting the requirements of the Brown Act.  Question: Can I object to an item being heard ? If yes, how do I object? If no, what do I do? A: Unfortunately, although you can object to an item being heard at a meeting because

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A&A: Rights of Public Comment

firstamendment June 13, 2009

Rights of Public Comment Q: The City is holding public meetings using public facilities and staff to show plans of a developer of a former navy base. The only public participation allowed is in two methods.  One is the small group’s method, the opinions of the members of the public in these groups, may or may not be presented after the small groups have met.  The other is comment cards which are known only to

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