News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Overton/Pickett Emergency Communications District Board Chairman has confirmed the cancellation of a special called meeting Wednesday night.
Stanley Carter Jr. said he cancelled the meeting due to concerns of violating the state’s open meetings law.
When asked if the board had scheduled another meeting, Carter said “not at this time.”
had the meeting taken place, whether an open or closed meeting, it would have violated the state’s open meeting law because the district has not provided adequate notice.
The Tennessee Coalition for Open Government notes two to three days generally is considered adequate notice. Board members told News Talk 94.1 News they heard of the meeting Wednesday morning.
One Pickett County Board Member said he had been advised not to attend the meeting by the county attorney because of concerns about open meeting laws.
In the case of a special-called meeting, courts expect government bodies to provide even more information to the public, such as what items will be considered at the meeting.
Tennessee law requires any body “which consists of two or more members, with the authority to make decisions for or recommendations to a public body on policy or administration” to operate under public meeting rules.
“(It) is public business and shall not be conducted in secret.”
The board can meet in closed session to seek advice from counsel. However, if the board wanted to take any actions, for example on a disciplinary action, it would need to be in open session. The board cannot deliberate such a decision in closed session.
13 members make up the board, including nine from Overton County and four from Pickett County.
