Bisbee Says Private Meetings OK
October 24, 2008: Benton County judge candidate Sen. Dave Bisbee, R-Rogers, said county justices of the peace can meet one on one without violating the state Freedom of Information Act.
Bisbee said he would encourage justices of the peace to meet privately if he's elected county judge. Bisbee faces Democrat Bill Williams of Bella Vista in the general election Nov. 4.
Several attorneys and those well-versed in the law said intentional meetings between two justices of the peace where any county business is conducted violates state law. Read the full article here.
Lawyer: Meeting violated FOIA
October 8, 2008: When the mayor and two aldermen met to re-hire a police officer Oct. 2 they failed to follow the state Freedom of Information Act, according to a legal expert.
Mayor Max McDonald called the meeting at the request of Chief of Police Jim Dwyer to discuss a personnel matter, and because matters involving city employees are not public information, McDonald did not notify the public, including local media. Read the full article here.
Special prosecutor won't proceed with suit against ES aldermen
September 24, 2008: A special prosecutor has declined to prosecute three members of the city council for an apparent violation of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Special Prosecutor H.G. Foster agreed that three aldermen violated the provisions of the FOIA, but he felt he would have problems getting a conviction because the defendants could claim a "mistake of law and advice of counsel." Read the full article here.
Irate Ark. man posts county e-mail records in privacy fight
September 10, 2008: An Arkansas resident is posting the internal e-mail records of various officials in the Pulaski County clerk's office on his Web site in retaliation for what he calls the county's refusal to remove certain public documents containing Social Security numbers from its Web site. Read the full article here.
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