Breaking news: Ed Committee calls Tues mtg on artificial turf

The Montgomery County Council was set to vote on June 16, 2009, on an appropriation for funding of an artificial turf field at a MCPS high school based on a behind closed doors recommendation of the Council's Education Committee.

However, the Parents' Coalition has now learned that the County Council's Education Committee has called a meeting for Tuesday, June 16th at 10:00 AM to discuss the appropriation of $335,000 to partially fund the installation of artificial turf at a MCPS high school. This public committee meeting will take place immediately before the full Council goes into session at 10:30 AM. At that time, the full Council will be voting on the artificial turf appropriation.

The June 12, 2009, packet on this action had previously stated that the Education Committee had made a recommendation on this proposal after being "polled" by Council staff. As reported on this blog, it appeared that this "polling" would have constituted councilmembers taking action outside the viewing of the public and in a possible violation of the Maryland Open Meetings Act.

The newly scheduled Education Committee meeting set for June 16th at 10 AM will put the recommendation and vote of Councilmembers Valerie Ervin (Chair), Mike Knapp and President Phil Andrews in a public forum where their deliberations and actions can be observed by the public. From the Act:

It is essential to the maintenance of a democratic
society that, except in special and appropriate
circumstances:

(1) public business be performed in an open and
public manner; and

(2) citizens be allowed to observe:
(i) the performance of public officials; and
(ii) the deliberations and decisions that the
making of public policy involves.

§10-501(a) of the State Government Article