From the Southern Pines Pilot (5/31/12): The Moore County Board of Commissioners is expected to consider a request from The Pilot next week to release minutes from recent closed meetings in which it might have discussed selling county land in Carthage.
County Commissioner Tim Lea accused fellow board members last month of violating the state’s public meetings law by going behind closed doors to discuss the sale of a 1.3-acre parcel to the Bojangles’ corporation.
The sale, according to Lea, would be contingent on a study under way that would determine if the county could spare the land.
State law allows elected officials to go into a closed meeting for select reasons, including the purchase of land. The law does not provide for a private meeting to discuss the sale of government-owned land.
North Carolina Press Association attorney Mike Tadych said the county board “is at peril”?if illegal action was taken in closed session.