|
(Continued from page 17)
lations of the open meetings law. The commission has dealt with only about three dozen cases since it was created about six years ago, but county commissions, city councils and school boards have had about 50,000 to 60,000 meetings in that time, she said.
• "We don't have a problem out there," Taylor said.
• But Dave Bordewyk, general manager of the South Dakota Newspaper Association, said the Open Meetings Commission has handled few cases involving the alleged improper closing of meetings because there's no way to know what was discussed in those meetings. Boards and commissions could easily record closed meetings, he said.
• "Digital recorders do not cost that much. I don't think it's a heavy burden to provide them," Bordewyk said.
• Rapid City Mayor Sam Kooiker also urged the committee to pass the bill, saying minutes and recordings could be used to prove a board or commission did not violate the law.
• "I think this offers protection to the community and also to elected officials," Kooiker said.
10 Things to Know for Today
The Associated Press
• Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
• 1. BAD ECONOMIC NEWS HURTS OBAMA AGENDA
• News that the nation's economy shrunk is overshadowing the president's pushes on gun control and immigration.
•
• 2. ISRAELI LAWMAKER HINTS MORE STRIKES ON SYRIA
• Tzachi Hanegbi says such a strike is not enough to stop the threat of weapons reaching Hezbollah militants.
•
• 3. HAGEL FACES HIS PARTY CRITICS
• Republicans who oppose Hagel's positions on nuclear weapons, Israel and Iran will grill him as confirmation hearings begin for the Defense Secretary nominee.
•
• 4. ALABAMA STANDOFF STRETCHES INTO SECOND DAY
• Police say they're still talking to a 65-year-old retired truck driver holed up in a (Continued on page 19)
|
|
