SALEM, Ore. (AP) - State ethics officials determined that members of the Willamette Education Service District Board violated Oregon’s public meetings law more than 40 times during its hiring process for a new superintendent.
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission started its investigation last year after the Statesman Journal reported that the board used illegal-closed sessions to quietly hire a superintendent.
The newspaper reports (https://is.gd/jYdvMi ) the preliminary findings apply to nine current and former members. They could be fined as much as $1,000 per violation.
The board members can request a hearing on the matter, or negotiate a settlement.
The law allows for closed-door meetings when certain prerequisites have been met. The investigation found that the district didn’t meet those requirements, and the board strayed from the topic it had stated would be covered.
___
Information from: Statesman Journal, https://www.statesmanjournal.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.