THE ISSUE: Open Meetings/Open Records Seminar
OUR STANCE: Great opportunity for public and non-profit officials to attend
Oklahoma’s Opening Meetings and Opens Records laws are meant to be strictly followed.
That is why elected, hired and appointed officials, of public and non-profit boards, commissions, councils, agencies and organizations should have a thorough knowledge of what the Act includes.
The Oklahoma’s Open Meeting and Open Records Act serves a distinct purpose.
It’s intended to allow citizens public access to meetings and to records, and the laws are meant to protect the public’s right to know.
Public officials must remember the public has a right to know what they are doing.
The business they conduct is the public’s and in only certain instances should they go behind closed doors.
Access to public records also is vitally important. A well-informed citizenry leads to better understanding of issues that impact the public.
That is why people entrusted with conducting public business should be entirely open, willing to discuss matters in open meetings and allow the public easier access to records.
On Monday there is a perfect opportunity for these public servants and others, who are part of these organizations, to learn more about the laws. State Attorney General Drew Edmondson and one of his assistants will present a seminar from 1p.m. to 4 p.m. at Tecumseh City Hall.
There shouldn’t be a seat available by the time it begins, if those who should attend will just show up and participate.
Much of the problem with Open Meetings and Opens Records can be attributed to sheer ignorance of what these laws contain.
Still, that is not a valid excuse when a violation occurs, which is frequent across the state, even some in our own community.
Following a recent meeting of a local non-profit organization, it was pointed out to one of the officials that a motion made and approved by the board violated the open meeting statute. The reason was because the agenda didn’t stipulate the board would consider any action regarding that particular item nor was any vote anticipated.
The agenda must clearly state those items to be considered for any action. In this situation, it followed an executive session.
Any action taken by an entity, that is in violation of the Open Meeting Law, is considered null and void.
That board must either call a special meeting, rescind the action, and do it over again, or do it in their regularly scheduled meeting.
The public has a right to know what is going to take place or what action might be considered. When public funds are helping pay the salaries and benefits of officials, even those working for non-profits, the public has the first and foremost right to know.
Officials throughout the Tri-County area hopefully have Monday’s seminar on their calendar.
We, in the newspaper business, deal with these issues and those of Open Records almost daily.
Still, we plan to have five of us there in order to glean the latest from Mr. Edmondson and his assistant because we want to have the best knowledge possible and be aware of any changes.
Periodically, the state Attorney General’s office conducts this series of seminars across Oklahoma. This is the closest and only one in the Tri-County area this year.
Shawnee City Clerk Phyllis Loftis, during the Aug. 17 city commission, urged city commissioners to attend and Mayor Linda Peterson nodded agreement.
We encourage all of those who deal with the public during the capacity of their jobs and are responsible in any way in overseeing or expending public funds to be attend. Not to do so will be a mistake on their part.
