From the Fayetteville Observer (4/24/10): Fayetteville City Manager Dale Iman wanted to hold some preliminary budget talks this month with elected officials away from the glare of television cameras, reporters or anyone else.
So he attempted to get around the N.C. Open Meetings Law by simply asking that he meet with council members individually or in small groups.
No quorum, no open meeting, Iman thought.
Under the law, any time a majority of the governing body meets to conduct public business, the meeting must be advertised and open to the public.
In this case, a quorum is at least six of the 10-member council, which includes the mayor.
Iman’s rationale for meeting with two or three council members at a time, as he explained to a reporter two weeks ago, was to get a candid discussion and direction from the council on whether to plan on a tax increase or deep spending cuts and layoffs.
“I am just trying to do what helps the council get through a very difficult budget situation,” Iman said Friday. “I suggested small groups as one way to do that so they can feel more comfortable.”
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