Open meeting laws are in place for one reason — to protect the public and public officials. Open meeting laws are not designed to prohibit members of councils, boards or commissions from visiting with one another socially or attending other meetings.
In a Planning Commission meeting, Saratoga resident Dave Worthington voiced his concern that only one town official attended a Voices of the Valley Meeting May 8. This meeting was designed to gather public input and educate the public about the impact rapid energy development could have on Saratoga.
Councilman Steve Wilcoxson, who was present at the Planning Commission meeting, responded to Worthington’s concern by saying, if more than two representatives of the town attended the meeting, it would be considered an “illegal meeting”.
Wilcoxson’s statement is simply not true, and it’s important that every town official and resident understands that they can freely attend meetings held by organizations like Voices of the Valley without worrying about breaking any laws.
It’s unreasonable to keep members of boards and councils from meeting with each other for lunch or an evening gathering at the bar. It’s unreasonable to prohibit members of boards and commissions from talking to each other about their daily lives while in the grocery store or at the park. It’s also unreasonable to keep members of boards and commissions from attending certain meetings led by private organizations. Those members of boards and commissions and councils can even voice their opinions as residents in those meetings.
An illegal meeting would be if two or more town representatives from a single board met without advertising a meeting to discuss business of the town, which includes, but is not limited to, appointments, budgets and town business that directly affects residents in a municipality.
Why? Because it is important for residents to understand how their local governments come to decisions.
Wyoming state law says, “The agencies of Wyoming exist to conduct public business. Certain deliberations and actions shall be taken openly as provided by this act.”
Wyoming statute 16-4-403 states “Meetings to be open; participation by the public: minutes. (a) All meetings of the governing body of an agency are public meetings, except as otherwise provided. No action of a governing body except during a public meeting following notice of the meeting in accordance with this act. Action taken at a meeting not in conformity with this act is null and void and not merely avoidable.”
It’s important that public officials and residents alike understand these laws to their fullest and know what they can and cannot do.
If you would like to know more about open meeting laws, stop at the Saratoga Sun office to pick up a copy of the Wyoming Press Association’s “Wyoming Public Documents and Open Meetings Acts”.
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