Editorial: There's nothing cozy about the public's business

Editorial: There's nothing cozy about the public's business



Staff
Publication Date: 05/17/09

Though Florida's Government in the Sunshine Law is more than 40 years old, local governments don't always get it when it comes to doing the public's business in a welcoming room.

The latest case in point was the workshop last Tuesday of the St. Johns County Commission regarding the state of the Tourist Development Council which manages the county's bed tax revenues. That's a weighty topic and more than a few members of the public wanted to be there. It was labeled as a workshop where no official vote can be taken and the public generally is not allowed to speak. They were allowed to speak at this one though, a strong point in the commission's favor.

Workshops are traditionally held in a small conference room on the second floor of the excessively spacious and very expensive County Administration Building. Callers to The Record afterward said the conference room was packed with people sitting in the doorway and standing. Senior Writer Peter Guinta said staff had to bring in additional chairs.

County Administrator Michael Wanchick disputed the criticism. He said those who stood, chose to stand. He said no complaints were received by commissioners or himself. We're not surprised. Most people, who call The Record, complain anonymously. They want us to ask the tough questions.

Wanchick makes the call on where the workshops are held and he said he would have moved it to the County Auditorium if the workshop couldn't function. It's not about numbers but about the board's ability to function. We're not sure what that means.

While there is little distinction in the public's mind between a workshop and a regular meeting, Wanchick said the conference room provides a more collegial setting for commissioners to talk to each other across a table. Collegial? They can put a table in front of the dais in the County Auditorium for that matter, a place where there is comfortable seating and state-of-the-art sound and broadcast systems. Small spaces have a chilling effect on the public's participation.

There is no distinction in the public's mind between a workshop and a regular meeting. They just want to be there. "They can call it a workshop or whatever they want to but the bottom line is, it's a public meeting subject to the Sunshine Law (open meetings law)," said Adria Harper, director of the First Amendment Foundation in Tallahassee. She said officials should always ensure a room is large enough to accommodate everyone who wants to attend.

Elected boards set the tone for everyone who does the public's business.

It's time the commission started giving its bosses their due. Ensuring access is more than just posting a notice that says public meeting. Maybe the county should have said, "bring your own chair." The commission should not automatically assume a workshop belongs in a small conference room.

There should be nothing informal, cozy or casual about the conduct of the public's business. We think the commission would agree.

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