Municipal and Government Law in Kansas
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I was at a restaurant the other evening and saw two of the city council members visiting at a table. Isn't that a violation of the open meetings law?
Not necessarily. As used in the Kansas Open Meetings Act, a "meeting" means any gathering, assembly, telephone call or any other means of interactive communication by a majority of a quorum of the membership of a body or agency for the purpose of discussing business or affairs of the body or agency. If the two of them did not constitute a majority of the members, or if they were not discussing business affairs related to city matters, there would be no violation of the law.
QUESTION NO. 2
I noticed in the paper the other day that the City Council will be discussing an issue related to my neighborhood. Is it
possible for me to receive a copy of the minutes regarding these discussions?
Yes. The Kansas Open Records Act requires that all public records shall be open for inspection by any person unless otherwise provided by the Act. A "public record" means any recorded information, regardless of form or characteristics, which is made, maintained or kept by or is in possession of any public agency. . .". Under the Act, an individual is allowed to obtain copies of the public records. You may be required to pay a minor fee for the reproduction of the record.
© 1999 Kelly, Kelly & Allman