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Labor negotiations and the Brown Act

firstamendment June 13, 2009

Labor negotiations and the Brown Act Q: Our public school board evaluated the principal and voted to give him a raise, in a closed session, which I understand is legal since the evaluation is confidential. Should the vote on the bonus remain secret? I asked to know the breakdown of which board members voted which way on the bonus. Is that information protected against public disclosure? I did not ask the amount of the bonus,

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Forcing public official to attend Brown Act training

firstamendment June 13, 2009

Forcing public official to attend Brown Act training Q: 1) Is there provision or precedent for a board to participate as a body in “training” to achieve more well-established and mutual awareness of respective authorities (and/or lack thereof), parliamentary procedure & protocol – in general, to learn how to “play well together?” 2) Is there provision or precedent for a majority of directors to discuss construction of an agenda (content, order, etc.) prior to a

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A&A: Informal Meetings and the Brown Act

firstamendment June 13, 2009

Informal Meetings and the Brown Act Q: I understand that the Brown Act prohibits a majority of a Board of Supervisors from meeting together illegally.  However, can one supervisor discuss an issue with another two or more other supervisors on a personal, informal basis, one at a time? A: The Brown Act defines a “meeting” as “a congregation of a majority of the members of a legislative body at the same time and place to

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A&A: Special meeting and the Brown Act

firstamendment June 13, 2009

Special meeting and the Brown Act Q: The Brown Act reads in part Section 54954.3 of education code: “Every notice for a special meeting shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the legislative body concerning any item that has been described in the notice for the meeting before or during consideration of that item.” I have argued with the Secretary of the Oakland School Board that when the Brown Act

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A&A: Agenda item questions

firstamendment June 13, 2009

Agenda item questions Q: Can items labeled “discussion” be voted upon as action items? Does “other administrative items,” and “other administrative items, including delegation of tasks” adequately describe taking action on appointing an already appointed established committee as a subcommittee to this group? What is a definition of a “brief description” of an item as required by the Brown Act? A: Government Code section 54954.2(a) provides that at least 72 hours prior to a regular

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