An Association of Oregon Counties representative provided a handout and gave a discussion intended to inform elected and appointed officials, county staff and advisory committee members on Oregon public meeting laws. Ironically this public meeting law “training session” may have violated these very statutes. PEG Broadcasting, the organization that provides the wonderful service of video recording and archiving our public meetings was denied access to a training session, Tuesday, on open meetings law.

As described in an email to Commissioner Bob Main, the PEG cameraman was told to pack up his camera kit and leave even though Messerle had previously promoted the session in other public meetings and gave no indication the public was not welcome. Main and Messerle both attended the session thereby forming a quorum and a quick review of the relevant Oregon statutes does not include “training sessions” as being exempt from the public or qualifying for an executive session.

It would appear this commission and possibly some of the advisory committee members have once again engaged in an illegal executive session. Further, Main’s response to PEG was copied to both of the other commissioners, another quorum formed via email.

From: Bob Main [mailto:bmain@co.coos.or.us]
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 3:12 PM
To: Channel 14
Cc: Cam Parry; Fred Messerle; Oubonh White; Bobbi Brooks
Subject: RE: Public Meeting Law workshop

The training session was not a public meeting. The training was conducted by an AOC attorney that was for elected, managers and appointed persons that serve on Coos County boards/commissions/committees. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Bob

What we have here is a failure to communicate the full meaning and intent of the law to our sitting commission.