HomeMy Public PortalAbout060_011_Clk_open meetings Government in the Sunshine
hours at the regular meeting location and give written or oral notice at least 24 hours
in advance of the meeting to the legal organ of the county or a newspaper with equal
circulation.9 In counties in which a legal organ is published less than four times per
week, the time, place, and date of the meeting must be posted for at least 24 hours
at the regular meeting location and, upon written request from broadcast or print
media in the county, notice must be provided to the requesting media outlet 24 hours FiA
in advance of the meeting. Upon written request from any local broadcast or print
media outlet, a copy of the meeting's agenda must be provided by fax, e-mail, or mail
through a self-addressed, stamped envelope provided by the requestor. trid
For emergency meetings (i.e., meetings with less than 24 hours notice), the meeting
notice must include the date, time and location of the meeting, the subjects expected
to be covered at the meeting and the reason for meeting with less than 24 hours ,
notice.10 Notice must be provided to the county legal organ or a newspaper with
greater circulation in the county than the legal organ. Notice must also be provided
by telephone, fax or e-mail to any broadcast or print media outlet whose place of
business and physical facilities are located in the county when such media outlet has
made written request for such notice within the previous calendar year. Many cities
have made it a practice to simply notify all of the newspapers, radio stations and
television stations serving the area when there are special called meetings or there is
( an emergency meeting.
Regularly scheduled meetings can be cancelled or postponed. This often happens
when the customary meeting date falls on a holiday.
Agenda, Summary and Minutes
An agenda of all matters expected to come before the council or other governing
body must be made available upon request and must be posted at the meeting site L:444,
as far in advance as is practicable during the two weeks prior to the meeting.'1 If a particular issue is not included on the posted agenda it may still be considered by the
council if it is deemed necessary to address it. The courts have not yet defined what L 4
is meant by "necessary to address" and individuals, often with competing political L'
agendas, may have different definitions. However the clear intent of this provision is
to ensure that the public is informed of the matters that will come before the body.
90,C.G,A. §50-14-1(d)(2),
1.
100.C.G.A, §50-14-1(d)(3).
11 O,C.G.A. §50-14-1(e).
6
szx