Comments on: Council holds secret closed-door meeting http://www.bhamweekly.com/2009/04/22/council-holds-secret-closed-door-meeting/ News, Entertainment & Points of View Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:54:09 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Topics about Stephen-smith » Council holds secret closed-door meeting | Birmingham Weekly http://www.bhamweekly.com/2009/04/22/council-holds-secret-closed-door-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-887 Topics about Stephen-smith » Council holds secret closed-door meeting | Birmingham Weekly Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:41:41 +0000 http://www.bhamweekly.com/?p=3452#comment-887 [...] Kyle Whitmire placed an interesting blog post on Council holds secret closed-door meeting | Birmingham WeeklyHere’s a brief overviewEmail: kyle@bhamweekly.com. Site: http://www.bhamweekly.com. About: Is a staff writer and columnist for Birmingham Weekly. His political column, War on Dumb won the 2008 Association of Alternative Newsweeklies Award for Best Political … [...] [...] Kyle Whitmire placed an interesting blog post on Council holds secret closed-door meeting | Birmingham WeeklyHere’s a brief overviewEmail: kyle@bhamweekly.com. Site: http://www.bhamweekly.com. About: Is a staff writer and columnist for Birmingham Weekly. His political column, War on Dumb won the 2008 Association of Alternative Newsweeklies Award for Best Political … [...]

]]> By: roxanelamb http://www.bhamweekly.com/2009/04/22/council-holds-secret-closed-door-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-883 roxanelamb Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:03:27 +0000 http://www.bhamweekly.com/?p=3452#comment-883 I can't imagine they (the city councilmen/women) would have met 'officially' behind closed doors since they are firmly aware of what they can and cannot do as they were sworn into their positions as city councilman/woman! Perhaps it was a simple conversation that could have been made bigger than it was...especially if Johnathan Austin was present...he would not support an illegal action for a personal issue or political issue of ANY kind. And if anyone knew him...they would say the same thing. With that said, I would imagine that there were good intentions of their 'gathering' -- so, perhaps one should not get too carried away on what is not fact. I can't imagine they (the city councilmen/women) would have met 'officially' behind closed doors since they are firmly aware of what they can and cannot do as they were sworn into their positions as city councilman/woman! Perhaps it was a simple conversation that could have been made bigger than it was…especially if Johnathan Austin was present…he would not support an illegal action for a personal issue or political issue of ANY kind. And if anyone knew him…they would say the same thing. With that said, I would imagine that there were good intentions of their 'gathering' — so, perhaps one should not get too carried away on what is not fact.

]]> By: bhamweekly http://www.bhamweekly.com/2009/04/22/council-holds-secret-closed-door-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-881 bhamweekly Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:31:50 +0000 http://www.bhamweekly.com/?p=3452#comment-881 Also, unless it pertains to a matter of good name and character, then no, it's not allowed for personnel issues such as that. Even if it is a matter of good name and character, the law requires them to convene an official meeting and then go into executive session. Upon doing so, they must specify the statutory exemption for the special session. Also, unless it pertains to a matter of good name and character, then no, it's not allowed for personnel issues such as that. Even if it is a matter of good name and character, the law requires them to convene an official meeting and then go into executive session. Upon doing so, they must specify the statutory exemption for the special session.

]]> By: bhamweekly http://www.bhamweekly.com/2009/04/22/council-holds-secret-closed-door-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-880 bhamweekly Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:29:01 +0000 http://www.bhamweekly.com/?p=3452#comment-880 If you are interested in learning more about Alabama's Open Meetings law, you can find all the information you need here. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/dmyknk" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/dmyknk</a><br><br>The problem is that we don't know what they were discussing. Perhaps they were discussing spending $15,000 of public money on Witherspoon's funeral. The circumstances suggest that, but there's no way to know. If you are interested in learning more about Alabama's Open Meetings law, you can find all the information you need here. http://tinyurl.com/dmyknk

The problem is that we don't know what they were discussing. Perhaps they were discussing spending $15,000 of public money on Witherspoon's funeral. The circumstances suggest that, but there's no way to know.

]]> By: filemanagement http://www.bhamweekly.com/2009/04/22/council-holds-secret-closed-door-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-879 filemanagement Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:05:11 +0000 http://www.bhamweekly.com/?p=3452#comment-879 If they were discussing a personnel issue related to filling the vacancy left by Ms. Witherspoon passing, isn;t that allowed? Or are they required to provide notice of the closed door meeting regarding the discussion of a personnel issue.<br>Give them a break! If they were discussing a personnel issue related to filling the vacancy left by Ms. Witherspoon passing, isn;t that allowed? Or are they required to provide notice of the closed door meeting regarding the discussion of a personnel issue.
Give them a break!

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