BOA closes doors for vote

Reprinted from The Hartwell Sun
By Megan E. Davis, Staff writer

The Hart County Board of Assessors failed to follow proper procedure by voting behind closed doors at a Nov. 8 meeting and not voting in public afterward.

"The purpose of the open meetings act is to enable the public to monitor the actions of public officials," Hollie Manheimer, executive director of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation said. "While public meetings may be closed in very, very limited instances for the purpose of discussion and deliberation, votes must take place publicly."

"We followed the directions of our county attorney, who we go to for guidance on all those matters, and recorded the vote in the minutes," James McMullan, board chair, said. "The intent was to reenter public session as quickly as possible."

"It was not a final vote," County Attorney Walter Gordon said. "The Board of Assessors reached a consensus to give me certain direction.

"If it goes through, there will be a final vote and it will be made in public."

According to the meeting's minutes, a motion to enter executive session to discuss litigation with Gordon passed by unanimous consent.

McMullan then made a motion to "pursue a resolution for five years of appeals, 2003 through 2007, for Springs Industries," the minutes read.

"This resolution is in accordance with the mediation that was held Monday, Nov. 5, 2007. The resolution should be accomplished in 30 days due to document filing, finalization and payment," the document continued.

The record showed the motion was seconded by Anne Thompson and passed with unanimous consent.

A motion to close executive session then passed by unanimous consent, the minutes stated.

Reprinted with permission from The Hartwell Sun, 11/26/07.