Transparency News 10/20/17
Friday, October 20, 2017
State and Local Stories
State and Local Stories
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Since last year, Danville’s government officials have held its annual retreat beyond the city’s borders to discuss the hot topics of the day. At the City Council’s retreat in South Boston on Sunday and Monday it was decided to focus efforts once again on violent crime, education and growing the city. City Council held the retreat — which was advertised and open to the public — at Berry Hill Resort & Conference Center in South Boston. Public bodies holding a retreat away from their locality is legal, said Megan Rhyne, executive director of the Williamsburg-based watchdog group Virginia Coalition for Open Government. It’s also questionable, she added. “The practical effect is to have a meeting outside the view of the public,” she said. “Even if they’re doing everything by the book, the public will be suspicious because they’re being effectively shut out.”
Register & Bee
Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown no longer intends to place bumper stickers taking a stance on standing for the national anthem on sheriff’s office vehicles after intervention by the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia.
The News & Advance
Virginia's state board of social services on Wednesday took the unprecendented action of voting unanimously to launch an investigation into the Rockbridge Area Social Services Board. In response to recent correspondence from local resident Mark Reed, and public comment in its monthly meeting yesterday from Kerrs Creek county supervisor candidate Susan Lawrence, the state board entered a closed session to discuss the advocates' concerns. The board then returned to open session and voted 5-0 to begin an immediate investigation.
The News-Gazette
National Stories
A southern Indiana city has agreed to pay $100,000 as part of a settlement after a city police officer's personal medical information was disclosed at a public meeting. The News and Tribune reports the agreement will resolve a federal case against New Albany over alleged violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The city also must revise its procedures and policies regarding the handling of personal medical information. A civil complaint from the Justice Department alleged that the officer's rights were violated when information about his medical history — including prescriptions and treatments — were read at a New Albany police merit commission meeting in 2013.
US News & World Report
In recent years, the battle over government transparency has opened up a new front—private email accounts. The press and transparency advocates have argued that records kept in a government official's private email account should be accessible through state open records requests if they relate to government business. Some government agencies, however, have been reluctant to hand over such records, contending that emails residing in private accounts are not government records. Last week, the Delaware Attorney General's Office became the latest body to weigh in on this issue.
National Law Review
Clamoring to learn who met with the Trump-Pence Transition Team in their Washington offices ahead of Inauguration Day, The New York Times brought a federal complaint to access U.S. Secret Service’s visitors log. Though the Times says the logs are public documents subject to the Freedom of Information Act, the Secret Service shot the request down under the Presidential Records Act, putting the logs under the exclusive legal custody and control of the White House.
Courthouse News
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Since last year, Danville’s government officials have held its annual retreat beyond the city’s borders to discuss the hot topics of the day. At the City Council’s retreat in South Boston on Sunday and Monday it was decided to focus efforts once again on violent crime, education and growing the city. City Council held the retreat — which was advertised and open to the public — at Berry Hill Resort & Conference Center in South Boston. Public bodies holding a retreat away from their locality is legal, said Megan Rhyne, executive director of the Williamsburg-based watchdog group Virginia Coalition for Open Government. It’s also questionable, she added. “The practical effect is to have a meeting outside the view of the public,” she said. “Even if they’re doing everything by the book, the public will be suspicious because they’re being effectively shut out.”
Register & Bee
Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown no longer intends to place bumper stickers taking a stance on standing for the national anthem on sheriff’s office vehicles after intervention by the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia.
The News & Advance
Virginia's state board of social services on Wednesday took the unprecendented action of voting unanimously to launch an investigation into the Rockbridge Area Social Services Board. In response to recent correspondence from local resident Mark Reed, and public comment in its monthly meeting yesterday from Kerrs Creek county supervisor candidate Susan Lawrence, the state board entered a closed session to discuss the advocates' concerns. The board then returned to open session and voted 5-0 to begin an immediate investigation.
The News-Gazette
National Stories
A southern Indiana city has agreed to pay $100,000 as part of a settlement after a city police officer's personal medical information was disclosed at a public meeting. The News and Tribune reports the agreement will resolve a federal case against New Albany over alleged violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The city also must revise its procedures and policies regarding the handling of personal medical information. A civil complaint from the Justice Department alleged that the officer's rights were violated when information about his medical history — including prescriptions and treatments — were read at a New Albany police merit commission meeting in 2013.
US News & World Report
In recent years, the battle over government transparency has opened up a new front—private email accounts. The press and transparency advocates have argued that records kept in a government official's private email account should be accessible through state open records requests if they relate to government business. Some government agencies, however, have been reluctant to hand over such records, contending that emails residing in private accounts are not government records. Last week, the Delaware Attorney General's Office became the latest body to weigh in on this issue.
National Law Review
Clamoring to learn who met with the Trump-Pence Transition Team in their Washington offices ahead of Inauguration Day, The New York Times brought a federal complaint to access U.S. Secret Service’s visitors log. Though the Times says the logs are public documents subject to the Freedom of Information Act, the Secret Service shot the request down under the Presidential Records Act, putting the logs under the exclusive legal custody and control of the White House.
Courthouse News
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