Just spoke to John Lines and was told there is no filming or recording allowed again this year.
Mentioned commissioners and others webcast such “public meetings” for people who for instance may not be able to physically attend due to medical conditions or because they have to go to their job.
He said in the interest of privacy for those who would choose to speak up. I informed him that I and they give up privacy when we speak at “public” meetings.
Anyway –
Round and Round and Round we go –
Public doesn’t mean the people need know.
What are the laws governing these meetings? Are John Lines and LGH breaking the law?
A quick google returned this excerpt:
A 2003 publication from the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services entitled “Open Meetings/Open Records: The Sunshine Act and the Right to Know Law” notes:
“Recording Devices
The Sunshine Act allows persons attending public meetings to record the proceedings with recording devices.
This right extends to the use of videotaping equipment. (1) Public agencies are permitted to adopt reasonable rules governing the use of recording devices.
Persons who attend and verbally participate in public meetings must expect to have their statements recorded. (2)
Since zoning hearing board hearings are public meetings under the terms of the Sunshine Act, any citizen has a right to tape record the session.
Individuals speaking at the hearing must expect to have their statements
recorded. They can have no expectation of privacy which would afford them protection under the Federal Wire Tap Act.
References
1. Hain v. Board of School Directors of Reading School District, 641 A.2d 661, 163 Pa.Cmwlth. 479, 1994.
2. Harman v. Wetzel, 766 F.Supp. 271, E.D. Pa., 1991.”
The PA Sunshine Act itself says:
“Section 711. Use of equipment during meetings
(a) Recording devices. Except as provided in subsection (b), a person attending a meeting of an agency shall have the right to use recording devices to record all the proceedings. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the agency from adopting and enforcing reasonable rules for their use under section 710 (relating to rules and regulations for conduct of meetings).”
EDITOR: Chair Alexander Henderson announced at the outset of the meeting that the only requirement the Public Charity has is to hold an annual meeting open to the public. He said LGH has no obligation to allow photographs or video recording. We don’t doubt his interpretation of the law, but we find the attitude to be outrageous and contrary to LGH’s mission to serve the public.