REPORTER SAYS COUNCIL VIOLATED OPEN MEETING LAW - Minney Said Actions Null And Void, Executive Session Illegal

(09/09/2003)

Carroll McCauley addresses Mayor with an issue

By Bob Weaver

At the start of Monday's Grantsville Council meeting, Calhoun Chronicle reporter Lisa Minney charged the body of violating the West Virginia open meetings law.

Minney said the agenda was not given to the media in advance, although it was handed out by Mayor Neil Blankenship at the door.

She said the agenda was not made available to the Parkersburg News reporter or the Hur Herald, but Blankenship said he made numerous efforts to reach the News reporter.

Town Recorder P. Jane Wease said she did not believe the town had to deliver the agenda to the papers.

Minney indicated the meeting was "illegal" and actions taken by the council last night were likely null and void.

Citing part of a decision by Judge David Nibert from a recent injunction brought against the town, Ms. Minney said she was representing herself and her publisher, Helen Morris.

Mayor Blankenship assured Ms. Minney he and the council were still learning, and wanted to make sure the meetings were conducted properly under the Sunshine Law.

Minney said she had been trying since last November to educate the council about holding public meetings.

Last night's agenda did list several specific items, as opposed to a "generic agenda" which has been used in the past.

Council members and Recorder are now
meeting in the courthouse, 'Little Courtroom'

The council went into an executive session over pay raises for council and possibly other town employees, after which reporter Minney indicated the closed session was illegal.

Following the executive session, Mayor Blankenship said no action was taken on pay raises.

The mayor asked the town's attorney Kevin Postalwait to help the council to more clearly operate under the open meetings laws.

Craig Sturm complained to council about not being considered for a town policeman. Blankenship said he was advised to only hire a certified policeman. He said he did have some problem with hiring Sturm because his mother (Bonnie Brown) was a council member.

The mayor said several citizens have offered to purchase asphalt to patch town streets, using the town truck and volunteer labor.

Council approved a Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan for the town.

The issue of what do do about the town hall property was not on the agenda.

"We are going to try real hard to do some positive things for the town," said Blankenship.