Just for leaving an item off the agenda

Pioneer Press Fri, 16 Nov 2007
5 Wisconsin officials accused of violating open meetings law

The members of the county Board of Supervisors' finance committee were accused of discussing the possible sale of Golden Age Manor at a meeting without notifying residents. The future of the county nursing home is of great interest in Polk County, special prosecutor Tim Laux said, who added that not telling residents it would be on the agenda kept the public in the dark. The dispute stems from an Aug. 16 meeting of the committee. The Polk County sheriff's office investigated a citizen's complaint about the discussion and turned over its findings to Laux. "I believe there was a violation of the open meetings and records statutes," Laux said. The state's open meetings statutes dictate that "any member of a governmental body who knowingly attends a meeting held in violation" of the law is subject a fine of $25 to $300. The county often relies on a special prosecutor because of a heavy caseload and to avoid any conflicts of interest. ... "We didn't do anything wrong," Newville said. "Finance is in charge of the budget. And we have a right to discuss it." ... Wisconsin's open meetings law requires that a governing body "shall set forth the time, date, place and subject matter of the meeting" for the public, according to a complaint filed in Polk County Circuit Court last week. The committee, as required by law, advertised the meeting. But the public notice failed to provide the required details, officials said.

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