The Fayette County Commission

heads to Peachtree City Nov. 21 for its annual retreat and is expected

to discuss its policy on voting in executive session.

In October, the state's senior

assistant Attorney General sided with Tyrone Councilman Ronnie Cannon

in his claim the Fayette County Commission violated the state's Open Meetings

Act several times during 2001.

In a letter dated Oct. 3, senior

assistant Attorney General Kathryn Allen said she understood that the

Georgia Municipal Association, the Fayette County Attorney and the Fayette

Solicitor disagreed with the position that votes must take place in open

session.

"This office continues

to believe that votes on matters that may be discussed in executive session

should be held in the open portion of the meeting, except where there

is a specific statutory exception for the votes," Allen wrote.

She pointed out the exception

is specific for personnel items, but "the absence of a specific provision

in the real estate or attorney advice exception does not mean that those

votes must be held in secret."

The county is set to discuss

the issue Friday morning at Aberdeen Woods.

Other items on the agenda for

Thursday and Friday include:

A presentation on status of

recreation plan by Louis Downer, Jr. of ALDH & Associates.

An update on the status of

the transportation plan update project by Tim Preece of URS Corporation.

A discussion by Capital Improvements

Program Committee

An overview of the 2004 budget

process.

Discussion of the parameters

of the chairman's position.

The retreat gets underway at

10:30 Thursday and is set to conclude at 12:30 Friday afternoon.

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