The only one left in the dark is YOU

A city council is meeting tonight to discuss its contract with the county sheriff to provide law
enforcement services to the city. The meeting has been scheduled behind closed doors. And
apparently the amount of money to be paid for the services is already set in stone — all that is
open for discussion is what services will be provided for that figure.

It’s true that Section 610.021 (12) allows a body to close a meeting to discuss a negotiated
contract until the contract is executed. But clearly the purpose for that exception is to allow the
body to discuss its strategy for negotiation. Wouldn’t it seem obvious that bringing the other
side into that closed meeting defeats that purpose entirely? There will be no secrets in this
negotiation, it’s clear.

In fact, the only persons who are being left in the dark in this process are the taxpayers who are
paying for the services to be provided. By the time they learn what they’ve paid for, the contract
will be inked and dry.

How can any lawmaker say with a straight face that an abuse like this of the law is justifiable?
But the sunshine law gets no respect on a regular basis.