Feb-06
16
Open Meetings Law
By
A common misconception exists about the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law. The law is much broader than most realize. Even when no action or even discussion takes place the Law applies. This includes “information gathering” meetings wherein the members simply sit in the audience and listen to a speaker whose subject matter is related to the official governmental business of the members. Learn more about the Open Meetings Law here.
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Keenan, thank you. This is solid information and needed for everyone’s edification.
This is certainly not the first time this board has violated state law. I successfully complained to District Attorney Eric Johnson regarding a violation by two board members who were conducting secret meetings in an effort to put together the original task force in Hudson.
The DA found them in violation and rendered all of their work product null and void. They had to start over and did so by sherking their duty and pawning it off on unelected members (hand-picked, if you wwill) of the community. Why do boards push this law when they know fully well after having been found in violation previously? To me it smacks of arrogance, pure and simple.
Thanks for that detailed analysis Keenan. I was the citizen who made the school board aware of this infraction of the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law. Of course Annette Cook immediately denied any wrongdoing whatsoever. This is just par for the course with Annette and the school board. They don’t give a whole lot of thought to open meetings violations or the concerns of the average taxpayers in general. That is why the hardworking taxpayers of the district are now forced to wait until the end of the meeting in order to address the board. This was enacted in December of 2004 and should be changed immediately. What an insult to someone who wants to address the board to have to sit through 2-3 hours of gratuitous backslapping to finally get 5 minutes. Anyway, keep up the good work. Your thoughtful analysis is always welcome here on the blog.