NAME THAT PARTY: Did Charlotte city leaders violate open meeting laws?

04/15/2014
CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -

Superior Court Judge Nathaniel Poovey says he will determine by the end of the week if city leaders violated the NC open meeting law.

Four former broadcast journalists got their day in court Tuesday. They are suing Charlotte city officials over what they claim were illegal closed doors meetings city council members held.

The plaintiffs argue the close doors meeting violated North Carolina's Open Meetings Law. City council members conducted four meetings to discuss raising taxes to keep the Carolina

Panthers from moving to Los Angeles. Plaintiffs claim council members went into closed door meetings because of fear and speculation.

Court documents show city leaders mentioned a possible tax hike 176 times during those secret meetings. They argue that should have alerted council members that type of discussion should take place in the open.

They believe shutting taxpayers out of the process was wrong and they want the courts to rule in their favor.

"The facts are going to show there was substantial discussion about raising taxes," Plaintiff Lawyer Donald Brown said. "Especially from the meetings in January and February, also introduced in the September meeting."

The minutes from the four meetings are being used as evidence. Brown argued in court Tuesday since Panthers owner Jerry Richardson was allowed in that closed door meeting to discuss an increase, then taxpayers should have been allowed too. City Attorney Jason Kay argued no laws were broken by Richardson attending a closed door meeting.

"Part of the purpose of the meeting statute and the exception meeting," City Attorney Jason Kay said. "Is to allow two parties to engage in business like discussions. We don't think the law excludes one of the parties from that discussion."

Poovey said in court he will read the minutes from the meetings and remember arguments shared to help make his decision.

"The voters should care about whether their elected officials are complying with the law," Brown said. "And I think that is a real issue."

The plaintiffs are using their own finances and a $5,000 grant from the Society of Professional Journalists to fund this lawsuit.

source