2009-09-22_PWETC_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Scott Anderson stated in order to avoid claims of violation of the open meeting law, Section 4 of the policy states try to make communication one way. An example would be if a committee member had questions or comments about the reading material Duane Schwartz provided to the Public Works Environment and Transportation committee it is encouraged that communication should be directed only to Duane Schwartz. Then Duane Schwartz could communicate back to the rest of the committee. Member Vanderwall asked to clarify that Scott Anderson was not presenting this information to get an opinion. His presentation is more for instructions on communications. Scott Anderson answered this is correct and that he could also answer any questions about the policy. Scott Anderson stated Section 5 of the policy states communications during a council meeting should be done orally, not electronically. Member Vanderwall asked if this means then that committee members should not look at incoming electronic messages during a meeting. Scott Anderson answered that his interpretation is if there is a full meeting with many people and someone sends an electronic communication with their opinion, the committee member doesn't know who it is from until it is opened. It is not wrong to open the communication but the message that is being conveyed by communicating this way is that the person does not want the committee member to communicate back during the meeting. Scott Anderson stated Section 6 is the part of the policy which describes the Open Meeting law. The Open Meeting law states business should be conducted in public. This gives the public a chance to give their opinion and makes council or committee members accountable for the decisions they are making because it is public. Discussions between council or committee members can happen outside of a public meeting however no decisions can be made during the discussion. If a discussion occurs outside of a public meeting between council or committee members and City business is discussed, that discussion needs to be mentioned in a public meeting so the public is aware the discussion took place. Scott Anderson mentioned Serial Meetings which can occur with electronic communication. Serial Meetings are when one person goes to someone else to talk about something and then goes on to talk to another person and then another person and then a decision is made without the discussion being made public. Serial Meetings can be conducted by the same person or by several people. Member Stenlund asked how many people are needed to make a public meeting. Scott Anderson answered it would be a quorum or more of the body where business is discussed or conducted or information regarding business is received. A chance social meeting at for example a party is not a meeting unless public business is discussed. Page 5 of 11