Pandering to the New Media Law Folks
Madison city officials are becoming concerned about alders' blog potentially violating open meeting laws. Lee Sensenbrenner reports:
I admit, I'm unsure why the blogs are a concern. Aren't they, by nature, public?
So far, four of the 20 council members have independent Web sites to which they've attached their names and fill with their thoughts, observations and opinions. As Lisa Veldron, who staffs the City Council office, pointed out, this group already constitutes a quorum of the council's Organizational Committee, and she's on the edge of issuing another warning about electronic communication.
Last year, council members got what Veldron called "a cease and desist order" about rapidly exchanging e-mail by hitting the "reply all" button. At the time, City Attorney Michael May issued an opinion that said that these exchanges were essentially a conversation, not an exchange of memos, and as such they fell under all the regulations of holding a public meeting.
A collection of blogs, Veldron said, is "a very gray area" that's starting to draw her concern.
Last year, council members got what Veldron called "a cease and desist order" about rapidly exchanging e-mail by hitting the "reply all" button. At the time, City Attorney Michael May issued an opinion that said that these exchanges were essentially a conversation, not an exchange of memos, and as such they fell under all the regulations of holding a public meeting.
A collection of blogs, Veldron said, is "a very gray area" that's starting to draw her concern.
I admit, I'm unsure why the blogs are a concern. Aren't they, by nature, public?
posted by Aaron Veenstra at 2:06 PM
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