Officials must learn
meeting law, Council saysThe mayor had vetoed the measure
aimed at open board meetings
The City Council voted 6-3 yesterday to override Mayor Jeremy Harris's veto of a bill that mandates members of city boards and commissions to receive training on the state's open meeting law.
Members of the Harris administration spoke against the override, saying the bill would add another layer of bureaucracy and discourage people from participating on advisory vision teams.
"We support, fully support the intention of open government, of citizen participation. We believe the provisions in this bill have the exact opposite, unintended consequence," said Eric Crispin, director of the Department of Planning and Permitting who oversees vision teams.
But Council members chided the administration for not raising questions about the bill before it was passed.
"I think what the administration is doing is blocking efforts to let the sunshine in by stating that they don't agree with this concept," Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz said.
The bill, which becomes effective immediately, requires training on the open meeting law for any board member. Those who are currently on a board or commission must undergo training by Dec. 31, 2004. Those who take office after July 1 must undergo training within three months.
The training would either be conducted by the state Office of Information Practices or a member of the city administration and the board member must provide proof that he or she took the training.
A commission or board member who doesn't comply could be subject to removal.
Office of Information Practices Administrator Les Kondo said his office would commit to doing the training at least once a year.
"There's no funding for the program and for staff resources, certified training and to keep records," Crispin said. He said residents may choose not to participate in the vision process if they are forced to undergo the training.
The city administration and the Office of Information Practices disagree on whether vision teams are subject to the sunshine law.
The bill originally cleared the Council with a unanimous vote, but Council Chairman Gary Okino and Councilmen Mike Gabbard and Nestor Garcia didn't go along with override.
"My concern is ... creating an additional level of bureaucracy that would be a substantial cost to the city," Okino said.
