The Tri-Township Park Board of Commissioners has agreed to change its ways after the Madison County state's attorney office found it in violation of the Open Meetings Act.
Earlier this year, the state's attorney office began investigating allegations the park district was failing to follow the law, which requires governments to conduct most business in a public session.
No charges have been filed against the park board. Assistant State's Attorney John McGuire does not expect any charges in the future after having settled the issue with the park board's attorney, Steve Giacoletto.
"As long as they comply with the act in the future, I'm happy," McGuire said.
McGuire said, "I learned information from a complainant and I supplemented that with information from their own Web site where they have the minutes of their meetings posted."
The Times-Tribune in Troy brought the information to the state's attorney because of concerns about violations of the Open Meetings Act, said Editor Pat Cox.
In a letter to the park board dated Aug. 19, McGuire outlined the violations being investigated by the state's attorney office, which included failing to meet the statutory requirements in executive sessions, e-mail communications by the board and notification of special meetings.
Failing to take roll-call votes on all motions to go into closed session.
Using the term "legal" as a basis for going into closed session, rather than discussing the proper business in closed session as defined by the statute.
Discussing public business among one another by e-mail.
Failing to issue the proper notice to call a special meeting.
"Since the Park District has received notification from the state's attorney's office in August, I feel confident that the Park District has established a new set of procedures and routines that will alleviate any concerns that the state's attorney's office has expressed," Tri-Township Park director George Bryant said.
In a Sept. 29 letter to McGuire, Giacoletto stated the board agreed to revise its practices to come in accordance with the law, McGuire said.
"Accordingly, the Tri-Township Park District Board should consider itself to be reprimanded by the Madison County State's Attorney for repeated violations of the Open Meetings Act," McGuire stated in an Oct. 17 letter to Giacoletto. "The board members should consider themselves to be under a heightened level of scrutiny by this office for an indefinite period of time."
Contact reporter Jennifer Kapiolani Saxton at jsaxton@bnd.com or 345-7822, ext. 23.
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