Q&A: Commissioners meeting

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From the Sullivan Daily Times:

Q: The Democratic county chairman is complaining about a meeting between two county commissioners and a Knox County commissioner. Would that be a violation of the Open Door Law? 

A: It would depend on how the meeting was called and what the subject matter was.

If the subject involves Sullivan County business, that would tend to make it a meeting that would require the 48 hours of notice under the Open Door Law.

If the three are talking politics or sports, it wouldn’t fit the definition of a meeting.

If the gathering was initiated by the Knox County commissioner with individual invitations to the two Sullivan County officials, it might fall under the chance gathering exception because neither Sullivan County commissioner was aware that the other was also invited.

Contact Steve Key, HSPA executive director and general counsel, with media law questions at skey@hspa.com or (317) 624-4427.