Accountability and the Sunshine Act

I think it is important for the public to hold its elected officials and Boards accountable for the execution of their duties in accordance with laws, policies, etc.  At the October 1st meeting, I interrupted the Board meeting due to what I perceived to be a violation of the Sunshine Act.  The Board’s solicitor, Derek [...]

Council Rock School Board Passes Policy to Allow Absent Members to Participate and Vote

At the Board meeting Thursday, October 2nd, Policy 006.1 was up for adoption. This is the one which would allow remote participation by members who for any reason couldn’t physically be there. Earlier in the meeting, during public comment I read for the Board excerpts from a document called “Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law — A Guide [...]

Policy on Remote Participation and Voting by Council Rock School Board Members Back for Consideration

After all the hubbub created at the June 17th meeting with J. Dennis McMenamin’s participation by a remote conference call (instead of being present as per Board policy), his vote being allowed on two issues and then his hanging up for the balance of the meeting, the Board hurried forward a new policy to allow [...]

Call-In Voting and Board Integrity

At last night’s Board meeting, the draft of Policy 006.1 to allow participation in absentia using electronic communications was discussed for quite a while. During public comment I pointed out many of the flaws in the policy draft which were noted here yesterday and a couple of days ago. The Board spent much of the [...]

Do You Really Want Board Members to Call In Their Votes? Let Them Know

At tonight’s Board meeting, a new policy numbered 006.1 is going to be rolled out, dealing with members to participate in meetings electronically (i.e. speakerphone, videoconference, etc.) I’ve already blogged about one flaw, being that they don’t have to give a valid reason they couldn’t be there.  Meaning it could become a matter of convenience. [...]

New Board Policy on the Way — Who Needs to Be There at All?

Well, after all the “fun” of the June 17th meeting, a new policy is being trotted out, 006.1, called Attendance at Meetings via Electronic Communications.  The meeting on July 23rd will have the policy’s first reading, and the second reading (and adoption) would be planned for August 20th. You can read the new policy at [...]

The June 17th Phone-in Vote — Another Perspective

I’ve previously blogged about the questionable phone-in vote on June 17th which tipped the balance in favor of Turf-the-Rocks.  A letter to the editor from Nancy Carroll was printed in yesterday’s Courier Times which excoriated the Board and administration for orchestrating this call-in vote.  The letter questioned the future implications that could arise from having [...]

The Phone-In Vote for Turf-the-Rocks — Against Governance by Robert’s Rules of Order (Board Policy)

One of the yes votes counted which decided in favor of Turf-the-Rocks was from J. Dennis McMenamin, who was absent from the meeting.  Special arrangements had been made for him to dial in on a special line, and there was a vote taken to allow his vote to count.  I’ve written earlier about all the [...]

Voting in Absentia — Not Permitted at Meeting in Centennial

At the last Board meeting, various public attendees expressed dismay, shock and frustration that a member on vacation was allowed to dial in remotely for just a part of the meeting and place votes on two issues.  The solicitor’s advice was unclear as to whether it should be done but they went ahead and did [...]

Doesn’t ‘Present’ Mean You’re There?

The June 17th meeting was opened with eight Board members present.  A ninth, Dennis McMenamin, was not there.  But shortly into the meeting as the first items for Board approval were being presented, a telecommunications device was turned on and Mr. McMenamin’s voice (presumably his) was at the other end. The Board then proceeded to [...]