After the July 2nd Planning Commission meeting ended, I noticed that the four members of the Commercial/Industrial "work group" were all inside the small conference room at Town Hall. I tapped on the door and asked if they were having a meeting. They indicated they were, so I and another citizen started to enter. We were told by Butch Hansen that we could not come in. !!!!
We were not being allowed to exercise our right to simply observe their discussion because, Hansen declared, "It is work product." Now, nowhere in the state statute for closing a meeting does it state that "work product" is a reason to close a meeting. Indeed, the TKDA Planner is contracted by the Board to work for the Township -you and me. Our taxes are paying for this, but Butch Hansen doesn't think taxpayers have a right to observe a Board-appointed committee discuss Township business that they are interested in! This group was going over the materials they are going to present at the upcoming Open House. (Town Hall, July 9th, 7:00 pm.) These materials are public information! These meetings are subject to the Open Meeting Law. What ARE they afraid of?
This meeting was not on the Township website, nor was it posted on the official bulletin board on the south side of the Town Hall. I told them they hadn't even posted the meeting and that they couldn't have secret meetings! Mr. Hansen repeated a shooing motion with his hand and said in a less-than-friendly tone, "Good-bye!" and again, "Good-bye!" and again and again and again...all the while dismissively shooing me away." How disrespectful of any Board Supervisor to treat any citizens in such a manner! This is simply outrageous behavior, and it has to stop. The rest of the "work group" was silent...
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!
HOW IRONIC...
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