Group sues Tulare County Board of Supervisors over lunch meetings
BY VALERIE GIBBONS • VGIBBONS@VISALIA.GANNETT.COM • MARCH 12, 2010
An open-meeting watchdog has filed a lawsuit against the Tulare County Board of Supervisors in an effort to end supervisors' practice of sharing meals when a voting majority is present.
Richard McKee, from the Southern California city of La Verne, is asking a Tulare County judge to order the board to conform to the Brown Act whenever a majority of the members congregates to "hear, discuss, deliberate, or take action on any item that is within its subject matter jurisdiction."
The lawsuit was sent for filing in Tulare County court Wednesday afternoon, according to McKee's attorney, Kelly Aviles.
Jean Rousseau, the county's administrative officer, said he could not comment on the matter because he had not seen the lawsuit. Kathleen Bales-Lange, Tulare County counsel, did not return a call seeking comment.
McKee sent supervisors a "Demand for Correction" in late February, asking the board to end its practice of meeting for meals.
A January investigation by the Times-Delta found 30 instances where a majority of supervisors — known as a quorum — met for a meal during the first seven months of 2009.
All five board members met for a meal at least 11 times during the first half of 2009. A series of state laws, known as the Brown Act, makes it illegal for the board to discuss business outside a publicly announced meeting when a quorum is present.
The county suspended the practice Tuesday until a new meal reimbursement policy could be developed.
But board chairman Steve Worthley blasted the watchdog group in a letter March 5, saying that the board never violated the Brown Act and that allegations to the contrary are "offensive."