Polson needs housekeeping
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Editor,
Montana Code and Constitution require “actions and deliberations of all public agencies shall be conducted openly,” allowing exceptions only in cases where the “demand for individual privacy clearly exceeds the merits of public disclosure.”
Lately, City Council has been holding “Executive Sessions” with alarming regularity.
There were no closed meetings in 2004, 2005, 2007. There were three each in 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011. Only 2008 had exceptionally 11 (in 34 meetings, 30 percent).
Last year there were 12 (in 27 meetings, 45 percent). This year there were already 12 (in 20 meetings, 60 percent) with still three months to go.
During the same period, details about their contents decreased in reverse proportion.
Agenda descriptions finally came to only say “Closed Session – Litigation/Personnel.” Heads litigation, tails personnel?
Non-existent minutes must mean that contents of meetings are none of public’s business either.
Unlike in 2008 and 2009, this time City decided to hire a City Manager in closed meetings, as advised by City Attorney.
After conferring with City Attorneys of Great Falls, Kalispell and Missoula, Attorney General’s Office advised Representative Greg Hertz that it would violate state law. Hertz so informed Mayor Pat DeVries and acting City Manager Karen Sargeant.
Pressured, Council opened its interviews to public, but not selection committee or employee panel interviews, nor the final deliberations of three bodies jointly, which was triple wrong.
Non-executive members were allowed in executive sessions.
Candidates had no right to privacy since “private” questions could not be asked. Candidates had waived their right to privacy anyway.
Whose privacy did three joint bodies protect by deliberating in a closed meeting?
This is the last straw for City Attorney James Raymond, whose many mistakes cost us considerable time and money. His own contract was last renewed secretly in an executive session. He needs to be terminated for cause immediately.
Anyone who cannot understand Montana Constitution in plain English, should not occupy space on the City Council and should also resign immediately.
Such brazen and collaborative corruption must no longer be ignored and tolerated in Polson. A full-length version of this letter posted at supportresponsiblegov.com
Murat Kalinyaprak
Polson
