My accidentally published article got lots of attention. The Mail Tribune published the article, it got discussed in the Mail Tribune’s Forum pages, and I got my first Technorati Tag…my blog got blogged.
Mail Tribune article — December 14, 2006
Mail Tribune Forum topic page — watch for the second page of comments
“These blog things just go everywhere” — Ridenbaugh Press
A Council Member Canfield from Troutdale has his own blog. He read the article. He thought there was no problem with council members garnering votes behind the public eye…
“Except for quasi-judicial decisions, one on one conversations about specific agenda items prior to a public meeting are a legislative way of life. There isn’t time in a public meeting to informally discuss issues one on one with a fellow councilor. I don’t think this violates the letter or intent of open meeting laws.”
Well, we certainly have different views on the matter. As I understand the open meeting laws of Oregon not only are decisions to be made in public but also the discussion leading to those decisions. It may be okay to talk off the public record but if any of that talk led to a certain decision I think every effort should be made to have that talk revisited during a public meeting. I’m open to a real discussion on the matter, however, especially from experts in the field. Mostly I take laws at face value.