Reminder
The Coeur d’Alene City Council meets Tuesday, March 18 at 6 p.m.
in the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Community Room.
(Permission to use the preceding cartoon during Sunshine Week, March 16-22, 2008, has been granted by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists and its participating members.)
From the City Council Agenda for tonight (3/18):
This means that the meeting will not be over tonight. Further, there is an additional meeting of the LCDC this month, on the 26th (Wednesday). The LCDC’s regular meeting is tomorrow, 3/19, at 3:00.
Also note the time for the recess: 11:30 AM. No word on whether that open meeting will be televised.
Comment by Dan — March 18, 2008 @ 8:41 am
I have asked Mayor Sandi Bloem to explain the practice of recessing council meetings to be continued in another venue instad of adjourning and calling special meetings as required by law. The net effect of the practice is to have the council in a continuous state of convention. Leads to a perception of mischief to say the least and the procedure they are using is unlawful. When I get a response, I’ll post it. My contribution to Sunshine Week!
Comment by Gary Ingram — March 18, 2008 @ 4:58 pm
Gary,
That’s a good question. We can make your question and her response a standalone post. It will be worth reading. Thanks.
Comment by Bill — March 18, 2008 @ 5:04 pm
It might be helpful to let everyone know that Gary Ingram is a former Idaho State Representative, and was the author of the important Open Meeting Law. Gary knows what he’s talking about on this subject!
Comment by mary — March 18, 2008 @ 5:29 pm
Mary, thank you for alerting everyone to Gary’s status. What I sometimes forget (because I take him for granted) is that as you pointed out, Gary was the author of Idaho’s original open meeting law. He better than anyone else is most able to address the issue of “legislative intent,” the reference the courts go to when case law is lacking. Gary, more than anyone else, can answer the questions, “Why did they write the law this way? What were they trying to do?”
Comment by Bill — March 18, 2008 @ 6:47 pm