Q: A local agency has agreed to purchase property to be used to store and repair government-owned vehicles. An option to purchase has been obtained but the sale is not complete. The agency continues to hold private discussions about the property citing the real estate executive session exception. Can they do that? Read More...

Even though the news was not supposed to become public for a couple of weeks, it was nice to hear that the city Charter Board opted to censure City Council President Vaughn D. Spencer for improperly excluding the public from a council meeting last summer. Read More...

When Chris Jaccarino went before Macungie council in January to speak out about his rising tax bill, he knew he was putting himself in the spotlight. What he didn't realize was that his visit to the podium meant his home address would show up on the borough's website. Jaccarino says the borough violated his privacy. Citing concerns about identity theft and other computer crimes, he's asked for his address to be removed from the public meeting record. Read More...

The Daily & Sunday Review on Saturday lodged a protest with Wyalusing Township supervisors over their decision to discuss and decide privately, following two days of public hearings, the controversial application for a conditional use permit for three plants proposed for the township. Read More...

The public should have access to the inner workings of Luzerne County home rule subcommittees, say three experts on the state’s open meeting law. Unwarranted closed-door meetings “fracture public trust,” said Terry Mutchler, executive director of the state’s Office of Open Records. “I think Luzerne County has to have a particular sensitivity to the perception of how its government operates, given the very horrific and sad nature of events that have occurred there in the juvenile justice system,” Mutchler said.
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Q: A local agency plans to conduct a work session this week for board members to discuss ways to fill budget shortfalls. The work session has not been advertised and the public will not be allowed to attend. The agency says because the gathering is a “work session” and no votes will take place, it doesn’t have to be public. Is that right? Read More...