The Danville-Boyle County Economic Development Partnership plans to follow the “spirit” of the Kentucky Open Meetings Act, though its chief executive officer still maintains that the EDP does not meet the definition of a public agency.
“In light of our last meeting and some questions that came up … we have come to an agreement,” Boyle Industrial Foundation President John Albright said during Wednesday’s EDP board meeting.
Last month, Boyle Judge-Executive Harold McKinney respectfully walked out of a proposed closed session of the EDP board.
The EDP’s operations received $230,000 in funds from city and county taxpayers and thus should make more of an effort toward “transparency,” McKinney said.
Albright and EDP President/CEO Jody Lassiter still maintain that the EDP is not a public agency that would be legally compelled to follow open meetings laws. But, they acknowledged during Wednesday’s meeting that because of the amount of taxpayer money the organization receives, some people could argue that the EDP is a public agency.
Lassiter reiterated that the board largely has adhered to open meetings laws since 2006 and has “rarely closed a session.”
As of Wednesday, the EDP board’s bylaws regarding closed meetings are virtually identical to the state law KRS 61.810.
The board only will go into closed session to discuss sensitive personnel matters, litigation and “deliberations on the future acquisition or sale of real property … but only when publicity would be likely to affect the value of a specific piece of property …” Before entering an executive session, the EDP board will publicly disclose the reason for the closed meeting.
McKinney said outside the meeting that he was pleased with the decision.
“They addressed the issue promptly and fairly,” the judge said.
“In light of our last meeting and some questions that came up … we have come to an agreement,” Boyle Industrial Foundation President John Albright said during Wednesday’s EDP board meeting.
Last month, Boyle Judge-Executive Harold McKinney respectfully walked out of a proposed closed session of the EDP board.
The EDP’s operations received $230,000 in funds from city and county taxpayers and thus should make more of an effort toward “transparency,” McKinney said.
Albright and EDP President/CEO Jody Lassiter still maintain that the EDP is not a public agency that would be legally compelled to follow open meetings laws. But, they acknowledged during Wednesday’s meeting that because of the amount of taxpayer money the organization receives, some people could argue that the EDP is a public agency.
Lassiter reiterated that the board largely has adhered to open meetings laws since 2006 and has “rarely closed a session.”
As of Wednesday, the EDP board’s bylaws regarding closed meetings are virtually identical to the state law KRS 61.810.
The board only will go into closed session to discuss sensitive personnel matters, litigation and “deliberations on the future acquisition or sale of real property … but only when publicity would be likely to affect the value of a specific piece of property …” Before entering an executive session, the EDP board will publicly disclose the reason for the closed meeting.
McKinney said outside the meeting that he was pleased with the decision.
“They addressed the issue promptly and fairly,” the judge said.
