OFFICIAL IGNORANCE can prove costly [1] Page 1 of 2
PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE DUTY TO KNOW OPEN MEETINGS LAW [2]
A huge victory was won this fall by the people of Reedsburg
and other municipalities across the state.
My paper, the Reedsburg Times-Press, sued the city's Community
Development Authority for violating the state's open meetings
law. After a failed effort by the city's attorneys to have
the complaint dismissed on a technicality, the city
accepted the paper's offer to settle.
The situation began more than a year ago when a 100-year-old home
was included in a redevelopment district in downtown Reedsburg.
Two plans for the four-lot district were presented to the CDA.
One plan included renovating the old home as a part of an office
and apartment complex. The other plan called for removing the old
home to put up a gas station-convenience store-Taco Bell complex.
Amid widespread public support for saving the old home and
interest from a Madison television station, the ODA began
holding its meetings in closed session. When it became apparent
to the Times-Press that the information being discussed behind
closed doors should have been part of the public record,
the paper began researching its legal options.
We were able to provide the Sauk County district attorney with
complete enough records for her to take action concerning one
of the eight closed meetings. Our law firm, La Follette & Sinykin
of Madison, pursued the other seven.
The Times-Press undertook this battle only after careful
consideration and only because the CDA had repeatedly
violated the open meetings law.
We pointed out the violations and urged the CDA, which is
composed of elected officials as well as volunteers, to obey the
law. But the CDA, following the advice of City Attorney Stephen
Chiquoine, continued to meet in closed session.
What was most shocking about this episode was the seeming
ignorance of the law shown by Chiquoine, the mayor
and most members of the Common Council.
During the Common Council meeting when the offer to settle was
accepted, Chiquoine repeatedly referred to the city's actions as
"technical violations." The settlement agreement that Chiquoine
has agreed to sign, however, clearly states that the city broke
the law. And it calls for the city to reimburse the Times-Press
for $5,150 in attorneys' fees. Chiquoine asked the council to
approve that settlement.
Ald. John Deitrich said it was "bitterly ironic that people can't
serve the community without fear of being hauled into court."
Chimed In Aid. Carl Stolte, "I don't want to say this
is ransom, but this really bothers me."
But Times-Press News Editor Michael Bailey noted that the
suit would never have been filed if the city had
not persisted in breaking the law.
As a journalist, I carry an abbreviated form of Wisconsin's open
meetings law in my wallet. I also keep a compliance guide,
published in 1996 by the state Justice Department, at my desk.
Working Journalists use these and similar publications to let
us know exactly what rights to meetings access we have and
under what conditions this access can be denied.
As representatives of the people, mayors, Common Council members
and their appointed volunteers throughout the state should also
have this information readily available, People elected to office
and volunteers appointed to committees have a responsibility
to know and understand the laws that define and limit
their power and responsibility.
And the city attorney should have known enough about
the law not to advise others to break it.
So what lessons can be drawn from this affair?
The first and most obvious is to STOP FOLLOWING BAD ADVICE. If
the city attorney's interpretations of the law are costing the
city money and landing its officials in court, get rid of the
guy dispensing bad advice and find somebody who knows what he
or she is talking about.
The second step is for elected officials - and those who are
appointed to government positions - to become familiar with the
open meetings law. It doesn't take an attorney to understand the
compliance guide. City officials looking to affix blame for this
shameful episode need not point all the way down the block to the
Times-Press office. They only need to look in the nearest mirror.
Pete Margolies is the managing editor and associate publisher of
the Times-Press. He can be reached at (608) 524-4336 or by e-mail
at Lnmar@mwt.net. "Your Right to Know" is a monthly column
produced by the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, a
statewide media group devoted to protecting Wisconsin's open
records and open meetings laws.
[1] The Capitol Times - - - - - - Thursday 6 November 1997
[2] The Wisconsin State Journal - Friday 7 November 1997
Above TEXT is REPRODUCED BY PERMISSION of Pete Margolies,
The Times Press, The Capital Times, The Wisconsin State
Journal and the Freedom of Information council. ADDED
EMPHASIZED TEXT was NOT in original published article.