Minute with the Mayor

Question:

What are the new laws that went into effect this year concerning open meetings and the Sunshine Law?

Answer:

The Tennessee Open Meetings Act defines a meeting as “the convening of a governing body of a public body for which a quorum is required to make a decision or to deliberate toward a decision.  A governing body is any public body consisting of two or more members with the authority to make decisions for or recommendations to a public body on policy or administration”. 

On-site inspections, chance meetings, and informational workshops are not considered a meeting under the act as long as there is no discussion or deliberation toward a decision that must be voted on by the governing body.  Advisory meetings with attorneys regarding anticipated or ongoing litigation are exempt from the Open Meetings Act.

We are required to give adequate notice of our meetings.  The city must now provide a published agenda 48 hours prior to a meeting.  The board may discuss or act on items not placed on the agenda as long as the rules and procedures are followed.

Every governing board must also allow the public the right to attend and observe public meetings.  The Open Meetings Act also requires governing bodies to provide a period of public comment at each meeting where an action on an agenda item will be made.  The public comments must be relevant to the items on the agenda.  A governing body may put reasonable restrictions at the time for public comments, such as a time period for each speaker or the number of speakers that may speak at the meeting. 

One thing that I wanted was more transparency in our meetings, and I believe that all levels of government should be more transparent as we govern for the citizens.  The city is complying with the Tennessee Open Meetings Act, and, when I took office, we moved to start livestreaming our meetings so the public can view the Sparta Mayor and Board of Alderman meetings. 

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Be safe out there - FINISH STRONG