Two Bills Meant to Increase Compliance with Open Meetings Act Move Forward in Annapolis
The Open Meetings Compliance Board has received four complaints about the Carroll County commissioners since 2010 and two complaints about the Carroll County Utilities Advisory Council in 2012.
Two bills which would give the Open Meetings Act more bite have passed the Government Operations Subcommittee, according to MarylandReporter.com. Several weeks ago members of the Open Meetings Compliance Board testified in Annapolis that some entities found to be in violation of the Act disregard the violation because there are no real consequences. If the proposed bills pass, violators face penalties that include making the violation public as well as potential fines. Del. Dan Morhaim, a Baltimore County Democrat and the sponsor of HB 331, said the legislation may force government entities to take the Act more seriously. It would require government bodies to publicly announce that they violated the Open Meetings Act whenever the Board …
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JoeEldersburg
4:48 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
It's ironic that while bills like these move forward to put teeth in the meaning of "Open Government", our Commissioners are privately championing bills put forth by our delegation (namely Sen. Joe Getty) to increase secrecy in government. Our Commissioners continue to violate the spirit and the tenor of the existing laws with impunity, receiving "slaps on the wrist" for now several violations. … more ›