I remember some discussion in the past about how the open door law affects our agencies. However I cant remember what the discussion was. Can someone help me out as if we are under this law and what our requirements are?
As an organization, we did have a matter which the Public Access Counselor in Indianapolis weighed in on. They said that we ARE subject to the open door law provisions. To comply with the statute, we post on the door in the front of the facility our meeting agenda when it is mailed to the board. The meeting agendas (as our meeting notice) are also sent to members of the press. Is there anything else I can help with?
We routinely send out a list of meeting dates to our press contacts once a year when the schedule gets set. Thankfully they usually ignore it or file it away. Either way, we've complied. I suspect we are obligated to inform them if there are changes made in the meeting times/places. But we rarely do.
Thanks Todd and Joe: Ed also requested info from CAP-LAW on this. We are under the law as we are under the State Board of Accounts. He also sent me a copy of the "Open Door Law". Maybe he should post it on the web site. In a quick glance, it appears as we dont have to send to newspapers unless they request it. So we can comply by just posting on the entrance door of the meeting site the day of the meeting. (The way I quickly read it anyway)
At the beginning of the year we send each newspaper in our 3 counties a list of our board meeting dates and times. Whether they post it in their paper is up to them. I was unaware of having to post the agenda on the front door - hence we have never done that.
I am learning lots from this and hope that Ed does post the open door law on web site or at least forward to all that are interested. Also, Ed is pursuing further for more information. Hope he lets us know as he finds out more.
Anita of CAP-LAW sent the Indiana Open Door Law and it has other implications principally related to voting or participating in meetings electronically. I will send it out via e-mail and include it in the board packet next week.
I have also requested further information from Kathy Williams related ot the issue. Will post more when it is received.
7 comments:
As an organization, we did have a matter which the Public Access Counselor in Indianapolis weighed in on. They said that we ARE subject to the open door law provisions. To comply with the statute, we post on the door in the front of the facility our meeting agenda when it is mailed to the board. The meeting agendas (as our meeting notice) are also sent to members of the press. Is there anything else I can help with?
Do you have to send notice to the press or is posting on the front door of the office good enough?
Todd: I appreciate your quick resonse
We routinely send out a list of meeting dates to our press contacts once a year when the schedule gets set. Thankfully they usually ignore it or file it away. Either way, we've complied. I suspect we are obligated to inform them if there are changes made in the meeting times/places. But we rarely do.
Thanks Todd and Joe: Ed also requested info from CAP-LAW on this. We are under the law as we are under the State Board of Accounts. He also sent me a copy of the "Open Door Law". Maybe he should post it on the web site. In a quick glance, it appears as we dont have to send to newspapers unless they request it. So we can comply by just posting on the entrance door of the meeting site the day of the meeting. (The way I quickly read it anyway)
At the beginning of the year we send each newspaper in our 3 counties a list of our board meeting dates and times. Whether they post it in their paper is up to them. I was unaware of having to post the agenda on the front door - hence we have never done that.
I am learning lots from this and hope that Ed does post the open door law on web site or at least forward to all that are interested. Also, Ed is pursuing further for more information. Hope he lets us know as he finds out more.
Anita of CAP-LAW sent the Indiana Open Door Law and it has other implications principally related to voting or participating in meetings electronically. I will send it out via e-mail and include it in the board packet next week.
I have also requested further information from Kathy Williams related ot the issue. Will post more when it is received.
Ed Gerardot
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