As

of July 1, a brave new world exists as far as

government's relationship with its citizens.

New

state laws concerning open meetings and open

records took effect on that date, and

municipalities across Georgia have been working

to educate themselves about what the changes

mean.

About

50 members of Peachtree City's various boards,

commissions and authorities listened intently one

evening last week as city attorney Rick Lindsey

laid out the many changes in the laws concerning

open records and open meetings.

The

simplest way to understand the changes, according

to Lindsey, is to just "think open."

Beginning July 1, when the new laws take effect,

there will have to be a great deal more openness

in how municipalities conduct their business, he

said.

He

stressed that the changes are to foster a better

relationship between citizens and governments,

and the government's intent to keep that

relationship open will at times determine how

some gray areas in the new laws are ironed out.

After

a short presentation, Lindsey fielded questions

from members about some of these gray areas, such

as the new stipulation that items be added to the

agenda at the last minute only if there is a

particular need to do so.

Falcon

Field manager Jim Savage pointed out that

citizens will often appear before the Airport

Authority and ask that a certain issue be

addressed, and he wondered if that would be

possible under the new law.

Lindsey

acknowledged that such a request could put a

board between a "rock and a hard

place," and added that if citizens were

present at a meeting to find out about a

particular issue, then that in his opinion would

be a valid reason for amending the agenda.

Such

an item would probably need to be addressed in a

limited way, with no action taken, Lindsey said.

It could then be placed on the next meeting's

agenda if it needed further review.

Lindsey

emphasized the new regulations about providing an

affidavit whenever a meeting is closed for any

reason. Under the new law, the mayor or chairman

of a particular body must sign an affidavit

stating the reason for closing the meeting.

Lindsey's

suggestion is for all members to sign beneath the

chairman, showing that all are in agreement on

closing the meeting. He added that false swearing

is a felony, and to further keep the board out of

any potential trouble, no meeting should be

closed except upon specific advice of legal

counsel.

Another

area that could be problem for board members is

when they happen to be gathering in a significant

number at the same social event. Lindsey said

that special care should be taken in such cases

not to discuss city business.

As

far as two members of a body meeting with city

staff of just talking about a certain issue at

breakfast, that would probably be acceptable,

Lindsey said, since they are not a quorum and

there's no real meeting. But he suggested that

two members forming a specific committee should

do their business in an open meeting.

Open

records requests were also covered, although

Lindsey mentioned that they would mostly be

handled by staff on a day-to-day basis, so those

changes would not affect the various governmental

bodies as much as the meeting guidelines. com

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