Greg Condit

Disappointing, but not surprising, that the new @HuntersvilleGOV town board is continuing the practice of holding closed "3-on-3" meetings in violation of NC law NCGS 143-318.10(d), including board members who explicitly campaigned on transparency. The new groups of 3 meeting virtually with town staff to discuss town business and the agenda each Monday of a board meeting are: Quarles, Walsh, and Dumas at 8am, and Hunt, Bergsman, and Rivers at 3:30pm. The law in NC is clear (relevant language below, statute link included) despite the contrary advice being provided to the board by the town attorney. An agenda review meeting (or "3-on-3" meeting) is an official meeting subject to open meeting laws because they are being held for the purpose of deliberation and transaction of the public business. The law is also clear that a governing body cannot meet in groups less than a quorum/majority for the purpose of evading the spirit and purpose of the law. The board only needs to ask itself one question - why are the groups limited to 3 members? Answer - to avoid having a majority, which is evidence of clear intent to evade the spirit and purpose of the law. The solution is obvious. Open these meetings up to the public. The meetings are being held virtually, the public could easily attend. Why should the discussion of public business with town staff so important to the decision making process exclude members of the public? (d) "Official meeting" means a meeting, assembly, or gathering together at any time or place or the simultaneous communication by conference telephone or other electronic means of a majority of the members of a public body for the purpose of conducting hearings, participating in deliberations, or voting upon or otherwise transacting the public business within the jurisdiction, real or apparent, of the public body. However, a social meeting or other informal assembly or gathering together of the members of a public body does not constitute an official meeting unless called or held to evade the spirit and purposes of this Article. @NCOpenGov @patrickconant #ncpol #transparency