Thursday, November 21. 1974
5.
SDX seeks meeting law opinions
The University of Kansas chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi is seeking support to redress the flaw in the present Kansas open meeting laws.
Stephen Buser, president of the chapter, said yesterday he had written to 35 editors, asking them to help the freedom of Information Center at the University of Missouri, the regional officer of Sigma Delta Chi and other prominent colleges, bringing their opinions on the open meetings law.
"In a recent informal opinion from the Kansas attorney general's office, it was
stated that the Kansas open meeting laws do not apply to certain committee meetings.
"Restricted by this holding, the University Daily Kansan has been unable to obtain important information in meetings of vital interest to students, faculty and administrators of the University," the letter said.
The Kansas Open Meetings Law states that all meetings and transactions of business by legislative and administrative bodies and agencies of the state and taxing subdivisions thereof shall be open to the public.
★ ★ ★
Mayor Rose discusses commission format
Reporter
By GARY WRIGHT
Speaking at the Faculty Forum before 45 persons in the United Ministries Center, Rose said yesterday the commission had done away with closed meetings.
The Lawrence City Commission is in compliance with its internal operating meeting regulations to adjourn Jack Rose's session.
He said one problem with the open mouths of people, people hesitated to talk, would be meetings.
Rose said that five persons were elected to the city commission on a nonpartisan basis. The mayor isn't elected, he said. Every two years three persons are elected to the mayor's seat, he said, and the two with the most votes are named the mayor of Lawrence for one year each.
He said the responsibilities of the city commission were to formulate broad policies and pass ordinances, to insure that complaints are heard and to receive complaints from citizens.
Rose said the mayor's job was to chair meetings, sign ordinances and attend ceremonies. But the mayor has no control in city commission, he says, and has no veto power.
Rose said that all meetings were publicized and were open to the public. Most people don't come to the meetings, he said, but everyone is welcome.
The mayor is paying $100 a year, he said,
which is merely a token payment. Rose said
he spent from 10 to 15 hours a week working
for the city.
Rose called Lawrence's city government a typical one for cities in Kansas of comparable size. He said that the commission had considered changing the form of
"The attorney general's opinion, as I read it, is that a group that is meeting has to be supported by public funds for the law to apply," Davis said.
attorney general's opinion was based on who received public funds.
base case $unset$. Based on the response he recused to the letter, Buser said, the KU chapter would work to see that open meeting laws weren't violated at KU or elsewhere in Kansas.
He said an elected mayor was one of the suggested proposals. The change has merits, he said, because Lawrence has a political leader. The day-to-day activities of the city are the responsibilities of the city manager, Buford Watson, he said.
government, but that the proposals had been rejected.
SenXe wouldn't have to have open meetings since it doesn't operate on public television. Davis said. He said he had seen an opinion leader in law would relate to the athletic corporation.
"We haven't been able to get in SenXen meetings and KU athletic meetings and this is the hardest part."
"It we don't get support from them, we'll be action of some other nature," Huser said.
Rose said the official had to consider all the options, but in the final analysis, he had to vote according to his conscience. And then he must face his constituents, he said.
One problem facing every elected official is whether to vote according to the wishes of his constituents or his conscience. Rose Mills, an attorney for a law firm in a community like Lawrence, he said.
"Pleasing everybody is probably the worst thing in the world." he said.
He said one advantage of an elected mayor was that he would have more power and influence.
Rose said an elected mayor would necessitate higher pay for the official. But the commission rejected the proposal, he said, because more money didn't necessarily mean that the mayor would be more competent.
Rose said that the impact of the garage site wasn't a negative one for the neighborhood and that most of the objections had been solved.
Mike Davis, university attorney, said the
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