The press release at http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/sites/CountyCouncil/News/Pages/PRINCE-GEORGES-COUNTY-COUNCIL-2015-ANNUAL-RETREAT.aspx for an "open meeting" includes "PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY COUNCIL 2015 ANNUAL RETREAT - For Immediate Release: 1/2/2015 5:00 PM Contact: Karen D. Campbell | 301.952.5182."
As you can see, this press release was issued on Friday, Jan. 2, 2014 at 5 PM. Yet the so-called "open meeting" began on Monday, 05JAN15 at 9AM. Is that reasonable notice under the Open Meetings Act for a meeting that was apparently planned a long time ago in order for council members to book rooms at the hotel & conference center or did notice and openness violations of the Act happen? Pasted below is additional information from the press release:
"The Council’s 2015 Annual Retreat is an open meeting. Click HERE for the full agenda for the 2015 Council Retreat. WHAT: Prince George’s County Council Annual Retreat – Legislative Year 2015 WHO: Prince George’s County Council WHEN: Monday, January 5, 2015 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 6, 2015 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. WHERE: Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel and Conference Center 100 Heron Blvd. Cambridge, Maryland"
The Open Meetings Act Manual explains why a compliance board was created under state law (http://www.oag.state.md.us/Opengov/Openmeetings/support.htm). The Preface begins: When the bill that later evolved into Maryland’s 1977 “Sunshine Law” was endorsed by the House and Senate committees, they wrote of the need to find the “proper balance between ... two imperatives”: “securing the public’s right to know public business,” and yet preserving the “confidentiality [that] is indispensable to the efficient, effective and fair conduct of government.” The 1977 Open Meetings Act tried to find that necessary balance. It represented a major advance over prior law, which essentially left the matter up to the agencies and therefore encouraged closed-door government. Then, in 1991, the Legislature returned to the issue and shifted the balance more clearly in favor of the public’s right to know, including an advisory process, through the Open Meetings Compliance Board, as an alternative to litigation. Since that time, the Legislature has periodically amended the Act largely in the interest of increased government transparency.
The State's open meeting compliance board can determine if the law was broken by county governments. Maryland open meetings law complaint procedures can be found here: http://www.oag.state.md.us/Opengov/Openmeetings/complaint.htm. Unlike going to court, fees aren't required to lodge a complaint with the compliance board.
The Open Meetings Act Manual explains why a compliance board was created under state law (http://www.oag.state.md.us/Opengov/Openmeetings/support.htm). The Preface begins: When the bill that later evolved into Maryland’s 1977 “Sunshine Law” was endorsed by the House and Senate committees, they wrote of the need to find the “proper balance between ... two imperatives”: “securing the public’s right to know public business,” and yet preserving the “confidentiality [that] is indispensable to the efficient, effective and fair conduct of government.” The 1977 Open Meetings Act tried to find that necessary balance. It represented a major advance over prior law, which essentially left the matter up to the agencies and therefore encouraged closed-door government. Then, in 1991, the Legislature returned to the issue and shifted the balance more clearly in favor of the public’s right to know, including an advisory process, through the Open Meetings Compliance Board, as an alternative to litigation. Since that time, the Legislature has periodically amended the Act largely in the interest of increased government transparency.
The press release at http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/sites/CountyCouncil/News/Pages/PRINCE-GEORGES-COUNTY-COUNCIL-2015-ANNUAL-RETREAT.aspx for an "open meeting" includes "PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY COUNCIL 2015 ANNUAL RETREAT - For Immediate Release: 1/2/2015 5:00 PM
ReplyDeleteContact: Karen D. Campbell | 301.952.5182."
As you can see, this press release was issued on Friday, Jan. 2, 2014 at 5 PM. Yet the so-called "open meeting" began on Monday, 05JAN15 at 9AM. Is that reasonable notice under the Open Meetings Act for a meeting that was apparently planned a long time ago in order for council members to book rooms at the hotel & conference center or did notice and openness violations of the Act happen? Pasted below is additional information from the press release:
"The Council’s 2015 Annual Retreat is an open meeting. Click HERE for the full agenda for the 2015 Council Retreat.
WHAT: Prince George’s County Council Annual Retreat – Legislative Year 2015
WHO: Prince George’s County Council
WHEN:
Monday, January 5, 2015 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel and Conference Center
100 Heron Blvd.
Cambridge, Maryland"
The Open Meetings Act Manual explains why a compliance board was created under state law (http://www.oag.state.md.us/Opengov/Openmeetings/support.htm). The Preface begins:
DeleteWhen the bill that later evolved into Maryland’s 1977 “Sunshine Law” was
endorsed by the House and Senate committees, they wrote of the need to find the
“proper balance between ... two imperatives”: “securing the public’s right to know public
business,” and yet preserving the “confidentiality [that] is indispensable to the efficient,
effective and fair conduct of government.” The 1977 Open Meetings Act tried to find
that necessary balance. It represented a major advance over prior law, which essentially
left the matter up to the agencies and therefore encouraged closed-door government.
Then, in 1991, the Legislature returned to the issue and shifted the balance more clearly
in favor of the public’s right to know, including an advisory process, through the Open
Meetings Compliance Board, as an alternative to litigation. Since that time, the
Legislature has periodically amended the Act largely in the interest of increased
government transparency.
The State's open meeting compliance board can determine if the law was broken by county governments. Maryland open meetings law complaint procedures can be found here: http://www.oag.state.md.us/Opengov/Openmeetings/complaint.htm. Unlike going to court, fees aren't required to lodge a complaint with the compliance board.
ReplyDeleteDoes the state have a compliance board for every law and regulation or groups thereof?
DeleteThe Open Meetings Act Manual explains why a compliance board was created under state law (http://www.oag.state.md.us/Opengov/Openmeetings/support.htm). The Preface begins:
DeleteWhen the bill that later evolved into Maryland’s 1977 “Sunshine Law” was
endorsed by the House and Senate committees, they wrote of the need to find the
“proper balance between ... two imperatives”: “securing the public’s right to know public
business,” and yet preserving the “confidentiality [that] is indispensable to the efficient,
effective and fair conduct of government.” The 1977 Open Meetings Act tried to find
that necessary balance. It represented a major advance over prior law, which essentially
left the matter up to the agencies and therefore encouraged closed-door government.
Then, in 1991, the Legislature returned to the issue and shifted the balance more clearly
in favor of the public’s right to know, including an advisory process, through the Open
Meetings Compliance Board, as an alternative to litigation. Since that time, the
Legislature has periodically amended the Act largely in the interest of increased
government transparency.