ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, January 14, 1997 TAG: 9701140054
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
The town of Rocky Mount - which has used a boilerplate executive session notice on its council agendas for years - changed the listing this month to give more details about its closed-door meetings.
"The town's business is open to the public," said Town Manager Mark Henne. "We want to make things clear for everybody, and we understand that we have obligations to meet to the public and to the media."
For years, the council agendas listed the four most frequently used topics for closed-door meetings according to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act - whether the council discussed all four or not. A council member confirmed that each of the four wasn't always discussed.
The Roanoke Times questioned the practice in 1995 in a story on executive sessions.
Last week, Forrest Landon, who is spearheading a new coalition formed to strengthen Virginia's open-government law, said Rocky Mount's use of the boilerplate notices is a violation. Landon is the former executive editor of The Roanoke Times.
Two Rocky Mount residents also have publicly questioned the council's executive session practices.
Henne and council members say they never intentionally tried to keep information from the public.
Because the state's FOI Act is lengthy and includes 66 exemptions, local governments sometimes have a hard time understanding it, Henne said.
"I think the law is very vague," he said. "We could use some guidance. A workshop or something like that could really help clarify some things."
Said Councilman Steve Angle: "I don't think everyone fully understands the Freedom of Information Act."
For decades, Rocky Mount's mayors doubled as town manager. In 1990, Henne was hired as the first true town manager.
He said many of the town's old ways remain, because that's the way things have always been accomplished.
But, he said the current council - which has been stung by recent allegations that it has acted improperly - is operating with the town's best interests in mind.
"We don't want a cloud hanging over us," Henne said. "We certainly don't want to get smacked for something we're not doing intentionally."
The council's Monday night meeting agenda listed the four items - personnel, possible land acquisition, prospective business and potential litigation. But there was additional information under each topic.
For instance, under the personnel listing was: "Discussion concerning finance director position, superintendent of water department position, and replacement position in water department."
The council also is examining its certification of executive sessions and the proper way to take a public vote after closed-door meetings.
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