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as if
Mary Ann Anderson
Speaking in the public comment section of the Jeff Davis County Board of Commissioners’ regular monthly meeting last week, the paper’s editor and publisher, Tommy Purser of the Jeff Davis Ledger, made it clear up front that it was the last place. He wanted to be.
After failing to get the minutes to the commission meeting he did not attend months ago, he told the commissioners directly, “It’s the last thing I wanted to do, but I feel like I got it.” I exhausted all my meds and got nowhere.
Purser asked Hannah Day, who works in the commissioners’ office, for the minutes of the meeting, but she was told they could not be released unless approved by newly hired administrator Heather Scott. The entire commission.
“I tried to explain that it wasn’t true,” Purser said. “They can be resolved early… I need a copy of the minutes to inform the public in time of what their elected officials are doing.
Purser said he missed last month’s meeting. When he asked for those minutes from James Crosby, who works in the commissioners’ office in a classic case of DEja vu, he was told again that he couldn’t get them until they were approved.
Purser then told the commissioners that the statement could indeed be released to Purser’s district, Altamaha County commissioner, and board chairman Ricky Crosby. After his conversation with Crosby, he received an email from Scott, who said that under Georgia Association of County Commissioners (ACCG) rules, with even more shades of déjà vu, you can’t release the minutes without permission. He also called county attorney Andy Ramai to ask for his help.
“That didn’t work,” Purser said. I have exhausted all my options, so I have to appear before the whole board to solve this question.
Purser said he was given “at least” bare-bones summaries of the meetings, which basically included who was at the meeting, what motions were made, who made them and what was passed. He then recited Section 2B of the Georgia Open Meetings Act, which he helped craft as a member of the Georgia Press Association in the early 1980s, and reads in part, “Regular minutes of meetings subject to this chapter shall be promptly recorded.” and such records shall be open to public inspection after their approval by the agency or committee as officiel, but in no event shall be delayed immediately after the next regular meeting. provided, however, that nothing contained in this chapter shall preclude the issuance of earlier minutes, whether or not approved by the agency.
Purser said he has been in the newspaper business for more than five decades and is now in his 50th year at the helm of the Ledger. He said he’s never had a problem like this before, and other entities like the city of Hazlehurst and the Jeff Davis County Board of Education have all worked well with him, including past county administrators and clerks.
“What I want to do is give people information and let them know in a timely manner,” he said before returning to the Open Meetings Act. I’m not getting cooperation, and I’m not happy.
Ramey took the floor, coming to Scott’s defense, saying, “I’m the one who told her to do it, just like she was.” [taught] to do. In fact, the way he was treating Heather was something he had been doing for years and years.
Ramai then recited 2A of the Open Meetings Act, which reads: “A summary of the matters addressed and the members present at any agency meeting shall be written and made available to the public within two business days of the termination.” meeting.”
According to Ramai, the summary and not the minutes were sent within two days of the meeting.
Ramai said he agreed with Purser that the law provides that minutes can be released, but he didn’t think it was “good policy” to release them if they weren’t approved by the board. He suggested to Scott that “a little more detail” should be included in the summary.
Ramai then says he wants to make sure the county is in Purser’s “good graces,” but Purser snaps back, “No, you won’t be,” adding, “The bottom line is Heather and Jay said we can’t.” Release the minutes, and that is not true. They did and they didn’t, it’s not true. It doesn’t mean you can’t release minutes. You can if you want. They just don’t want to.”
When Purser mentioned the problem to someone else who didn’t mention it, that person asked what the county was trying to hide.
“And that’s what I’m asking,” Purser concluded. “What do you have to hide? I am angry about this, I tell you the truth. I’m trying to do my job, and I can’t do it in my current position.
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