A&A: Budget committee meets behind closed doors

Q: Our county budget committee meets behind closed doors and keeps no written records of meetings. County staff says it’s OK because the budget committee is an ad hoc committee. They say they can designate ANY committee as an ad hoc committee and meet behind closed doors. A: Government Code section 54952(b) contains the definition [...]

Santa Clarita: Community alleges open meeting violation in vote on public library

A group of library workers and patrons in Santa Clarita has demanded that the City Council rescind its vote on withdrawing from the Los Angeles County Library System and allow public discussions of the withdrawal. -db The Santa Clarita Valley Signal September 28, 2010 By Natalie Everett Library patrons and workers sent the city of [...]

Ukiah: Supervisors consider appointing ad-hoc committee on retiree health insurance

The County Board of Supervisors is considering appointing an ad-hoc committee to consider ways to preserve health benefits for retirees but some supervisors think the issue is too important to discuss  behind closed doors. -DB The Ukiah Daily Journal January 27, 2010 By Tiffany Revelle Conflict about forming an ad-hoc committee to study available choices [...]

Southern California: Long running ad hoc committees trample open government

With 14 ad hoc committees, one four years old, the Highland City Council is needlessly conducting vast amounts of the people’s business behind closed doors, says an editorial in the Highland Community News. -DB Highland Community News Editorial December 17, 2009 Ad hoc committees can serve a very useful purpose. Operating out of public view, they [...]