Lexington held secret meeting on biker party

MCs in the News
Lexington Town Council proceeded with a session Monday on police plans to watch a biker group gathering after a warning from the town's top aide that it violated open meeting requirements.

Town attorney Brad Cunningham agreed the unannounced discussion didn't comply with state standards for a day's notice of topics to be discussed or acted upon.

"Once warned, I don't know what you can do," he said of the seven council members' decision to hold the meeting anyway.

Town administrator Jim Duckett confirmed warning council members the session was improper after he and Cunningham reviewed what is permissible under the "Sunshine Law."

"I told them they shouldn't, they couldn't do it," he said. "It was not announced in advance to the public and didn't meet the requirements allowing it to be done that way."

Police Chief Terrence Greene said during the meeting he outlined plans on how officers will handle a fundraiser for Hells Angels at a local bar Saturday.

Mayor Randy Halfacre said he arranged the briefing "to give us an update" as council members gathered for a meal prior to their public meeting.

Since it was informational, "I don't see that as a violation" of open-meeting requirements, Halfacre said.

Halfacre didn't remember being told the session was improper.

Some council members said any violation was inadvertent.

"I wouldn't call it a meeting; it was more of a briefing," Councilman Todd Shevchik said.

"I don't know what all the guidelines are," said Shevchik, a magazine publisher. "There was some mumbling and discussion as to whether it was appropriate."

Reach Flach at (803) 771-8483.
Original article...

http://www.thestate.com/2010/03/03/1183157/lexington-meeting.html