If the subject doesn’t fit, you must Quit

Sometimes the sunshine law issues I hear about are quite complicated and difficult, like some
of the issues in my last entry. Other times the calls are like today, where you are just baffled at
how the public body can be so confused about what is, basically, a simple law.

The city council I heard about today held a closed meeting to debate whether to open city hall
at 9 to 5 instead of 8 to 5. Yes, this discussion took place in a closed meeting. Of course, this
was one of those meeting agendas that cited every exception in 610.021 (or at least the rote
group of four or five that seem to be recited as if that covered the intent of the law for such
matters). It doesn’t really matter WHAT exception the council cited for closing the meeting — it
wouldn’t fit THIS discussion.

But WAIT, there’s MORE They ALSO discussed changing the employee bonus policy so
that bonuses are performance-based. No, they weren’t talking about personal information about
THE employee. Try to fit THAT discussion into an exception under the law.

If the subject doesn’t fit, you must quit. (With apologies to Johnny Cochran, who NEVER
would have supported a closed record of any kind )