Q&A: Notification of public meetings

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The Times (Munster):

Q: I am in the process of writing a letter to the president of a government agency, the Crown Point Development Corp., to request notification of meetings.

I want to quote the Indiana Code where it says that notification is required 48 hours prior to the meeting if the media has asked for it, but I noticed a part that says the written request has to be made before Jan. 1. Can I still send the letter to ask for notification even though it is after Jan. 1?

A: You can still write the letter, but you correctly noted that the entity can decline your request because it wasn’t submitted prior to Jan. 1.

Of course, that would raise the question as to why don’t they want to give you notice and why would they refuse when nothing prevents them from granting the request.

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