From the Fayetteville Observer (6/5/10): Robeson County Attorney Hal Kinlaw said he didn't mean to let the Board of Commissioners begin its budget forum two weeks ago by gathering in an illegal, closed-door meeting.
“I fell asleep,” Kinlaw said. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
Kinlaw’s admission came about 24 hours after a reporter knocked on a door and asked to join commissioners and other county officials as they met in a private meeting room more than an hour after they were scheduled to begin public budget talks.
The commissioners never voted to go into the closed session. That’s a violation of the state’s open meetings law, said Amanda Martin, a lawyer representing the N.C. Press Association.