Michael Atherton audiotapes his neighborhood meeting and gets tossed.
Without knowing the details of the actual fight (was the misquote that bad?
What would you do with the tape - sue for defamation? Play it over and over
again in your rec room? Wouldn't the newsletter print a brief letter from
you giving your side? Did you ask?), I believe it's extremely bad form to
prevent any citizen from documenting a public meeting in any way -
especially if it is not disruptive to the business at hand. (I would guess
audio tape is never a problem, unless you're running around getting in the
face of everyone who talks. Video can be pretty intimidating, but I don't
see why it couldn't work.)
Sure, everything we neighborhood NRP folks do is ultimately reviewed by the
city, but there's no doubt we are surrogates managing taxpayer money and
should be fully accountable. With power - even the tiny power of a
neighborhood's NRP - comes responsibility. We may not be bound by the Open
Meeting Law (though that's not for sure; I'm not a lawyer), but we should be
bound by its spirit. Even if a citizen is acting silly, we need to err on
the side of openness.
God forbid someone should tape me running a Kingfield meeting and focus on
it like someone watching Kirby Puckett in Game 6 of the '91 Series, though.
David Brauer
Kingfield - Ward 10
President, Kingfield Neighborhood Assn. board
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
Michael Atherton
Sent: Friday, February 23, 2001 7:54 AM
To: Mpls List
Subject: [Mpls] Why the NRP Sucks, Part 1
Do you believe that neighborhood organizations which
contract with the NRP should be able to exclude
individuals who disagree with their decisions, even
though these decisions may affect them financially?
Bob Miller the director of the NRP apparently does
(see text of letter below).
I have been one of a number of individuals who have
been opposed to the actions of our neighborhood
organization (PPERRIA). My wife and I began tape
recording meeting after I were misquoted in the
organization's newsletter. We also wanted to be able
to accurately state the facts as they occurred at meetings.
I believe that I have the right to do this because PPERRIA
acts as a surrogate in budget decisions normally made by
the city council and is thus subject to the open meeting law.
At one meeting PPERRIA's president tried to have me
physically ejected from the police because I refused to
stop recording. Bob Miller apparently believes this
would be perfectly acceptable.
It is time that the legislators reading this list pass laws insuring
that the NRP and neighborhood organizations handing
public funds provide individuals with the same rights that
they would have when dealing with other government agencies.
It is time to make the NRP and its contractors accountable.
Mike Atherton
Prospect Park
Ward 2
---------------------------------
February 21, 2001
Mr. Michael Atherton
156 Orlin Avenue Southeast
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Dear Mr. Atherton,
Last fall you wrote to me expressing concern about a vote taken
at a Prospect Park East River Road Improvement Association
(PPERRIA) meeting. The vote was to limit video and audio
recordings at PPERRIA's monthly meetings. You state that
PPERRIA is subject to the state Open Meeting laws (Minnesota
State Statute Section 471.705).
The statue you have referenced applies to government bodies.
It does not apply to neighborhood organizations. Although the NRP
contracts with over 50 neighborhood organizations, all of which
make it a practice to hold open meetings, these organizations are
independent bodies operating under their own Articles of
Incorporation, Bylaws, and state statues governing the operation
of non-profit corporations. The assertion that PPERRIA or any
other Minneapolis neighborhood organization is an arm of City
government is incorrect.
Our records show that this information was previously provided
to you in a memorandum date April 7, 2000. A copy of this
memo is enclosed for your convenience.
Sincerely,
Robert D. Miller
Director
cc: Joan Campbell, 2th Ward Councilmember
Steve Cross, PPERRIA President
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