Sandy council and city attorney call for coordinated response to OREC/OGEC guidance on serial meetings

Councilors on Aug. 18 voiced urgent concern about recent Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) guidance that staff and several attorneys described as an expansive interpretation of the state public meetings law, and asked staff to coordinate a statewide response.

A councilor framed the issue as a threat to the ability of locally elected officials to conduct ordinary business. That speaker said an OGEC decision could limit or prohibit routine communications between elected members outside of a noticed public meeting and described the approach as “insane” if applied broadly: “Can you imagine doing your job and not being able to talk to anybody on here other than in this meeting in this form?” the councilor asked. The speaker said such an interpretation could shift practical power from elected councils…