Today’s post marks the inauguration of the “Closed Door Award,” an award that is given to distinguish gratuitous use of executive session by a governmental body.
The gratuitous use of executive session is anathema to good government and open government.
Now there is a way to recognize when a governmental body inappropriately shuts the public out. Feel free to give your board, council, or committee an award each time you witness gratuitous use. Count up the worst offenders by year’s end and perhaps we’ll have the opportunity to make another award or form of recognition for the Most Closed Door Awards.
Today’s Closed Door Award goes to the Orange County Legislature’s Physical Services Committee, for calling an executive session for Lenny Llerena’s presentation “Update re: hangars to be built at Airport.”
Mr. Llerena’s presentation was first on the agenda, and it was only after the presentation was set up, complete with powerpoint visuals projected onto a screen, that the call for “executive session” was made. There was a pause until an administrative assistant helpfully suggested the rationale of “contract negotiations.”
I have made an artistic video to commemorate this award, complete with the audio of Robert Freeman, Executive Director of the New York State Committee on Open Government, accompanied by the visuals of the video I recorded while waiting at the Orange County Government Center for the Physical Services Committee to return from executive session. Mr. Freeman was the guest of the Newburgh Free Library, where this audio comes from, in the fall of 2006.
Congratulations!
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