North Carolina Law says all business conducted by North Carolina governmental agency oversite “Boards” are supposed to be in OPEN (to the public) Session and fair and accurate records kept on what was discussed and any actions that were taken in those open sessions. North Carolina Courts have also ruled that email messages and any other communications (except those few that are explicitly kept closed by law) by these “Board” are public records that must be preserved and kept for public inspection. Long gone are the days that secret meetings, telephone calls and other illegal “tricks” can be used to decide what will be done and that the legally required public meetings will be used only to cover-up and make official and approve the “seemingly” legal actions that were, in fact, decided in secret.
You might be saying to yourself, hold on right here Williams. YOU, of all people, with your continued attendance at all these Board meeting-for years even-should know that these board members don’t do anything like you are saying they have to be doing. They do what they please. They do what they have always done. And they will never change. No matter what the law says. And no matter what YOU say. The District Attorney will never do anything. That is how it has always been done and that is how it will always be done.
I would reply, “you are right my friend. That is how it has always been done, but times are changing.” I would then add, “but don’t believe me. Read this for yourself.” Then I would show you this article put out by the North Carolina Institute of Government that warns North Carolina governmental agencies and their Boards. Lawsuits, Court Orders, large sanctions and huge awards on Board members and their taxpayers will get these Boards straightened out soon enough. In the meantime, these rogue boards are getting all the rope they need to hang themselves.
Here is the Institute of Government’s article. Read it for yourself. I don’t need to say any more.
Click HERE: “Mayor Learns Harsh E-Discovery Lesson”
If that is not enough to convince you,
Click HERE: “Access to Public Records”
Want More???
Click HERE: Destruction of Public Records Regulated
If you want anything more than that, Call Shelby Mayor Stan Anthony or Shelby Planning and Zoning Director Walt Sharer. I am sure they have their taxpayer paid attorneys working overtime trying to find loopholes that they can slither through to void their just punishments when it’s Court time and they have so much to explain. My wager is they will have to charge the taxpayers big bucks to get themselves out of the mess they have created for themselves. AND, you Shelby City taxpayers and voters for putting them in office to begin with. YOU will ultimately pay because YOU are ultimately the ones who are responsible.
