The Alabama governor’s emergency order allowing teleconferenced meetings in limited situations during the COVID-19 pandemic is being abused by the council majority, according to at least one Decatur, Ala., councilman. Gov. Kay Ivey’s order waives portions of the Open Meetings Act by allowing teleconferenced meetings, but only for COVID-19-related business and as “necessary to perform […]
Read More… from Alabama Council Members Debate Use of Online City Meetings
The city’s first attempt Monday at holding a virtual public meeting of the city council was plagued by technical issues that made video spotty and audio sometimes impossible to hear. Moreover, it may have violated the state’s Open Meetings Act. Under Gov. Greg Abbot’s emergency declaration, meetings of more than 10 are prohibited. A temporary […]
Read More… from Texas City Virtual meeting may have violated Open Meetings Act
I see the folks down at City Hall are again in the news for meeting in secret. The latest is when the City Council, at the behest of Mayor Jenny Durkan, suddenly realized that their unanimously passed head tax was in fact pretty much unanimously loathed. So rather than convene to consider what to do […]
Read More… from Seattle’s secret meetings are creating more suspicion than progress
A report on ways to create a more open government in Santa Rosa was welcomed by the City Council, though quick action on its recommendations is unlikely.
The report of the city’s Open Government Task Force was the final item presented to the outgoing City Council on Tuesday. That means implementation of its suggestions, including passing a sunshine ordinance and hiring a communications director, will fall to the new council, which will revisit the issue in February.
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Read More… from Open-government task force delivers report to Santa Rosa council
Eight months after it was formed, the city’s Open Government Task Force is putting the finishing touches on recommendations it hopes will make it easier for residents to engage with their government.
The nine-member panel, which was formed in the wake of the death of 13-year-old Andy Lopez, found that City Hall needs to restore public trust by being more transparent, engaged with the community and adept at communicating in times of crisis.
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Read More… from Seeking government transparency in Santa Rosa
The First Amendment watchdog group and NFOIC affiliate member, Californians Aware is calling on the Garden Grove City Council to publicly apologize under threat of legal action for a violation of the state's open meetings law, after it withheld an investigative report on the fire department last week.
At the Oct. 14 City Council meeting, council members received a written report investigating management issues in the fire department.
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Read More… from Watchdog Calls Out Garden Grove for Withholding Records
A state watchdog group says Philadelphia City Council willfully ignored Pennsylvania’s open-meetings law this past week by gathering behind closed doors — not once, but twice.
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Read More… from Philadelphia City Council Is Ignoring Sunshine Laws, Watchdog Group Says
