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City acknowledges possible Open Meetings Act violation for housing advisory committee, posts meeting summaries
Summary
The city read a formal apology and corrective notice after a complaint alleged the Housing Needs Assessment Advisory Committee operated as a public agency without proper Open Meetings Act notice. The clerk read the remedial statement and the city said future meetings will be noticed and summaries posted.
City staff and the clerk read a formal statement addressing a written complaint that the Georgetown–Scott County Housing Needs Assessment Advisory Committee may have violated Kentucky’s Open Meetings Act.
The clerk reported that the committee met twice in 2024 (May 28 and Dec. 5) and that, upon review, the city concluded the committee functioned beyond a consultant sounding board and had a role in forming public policy and strategic recommendations. The clerk read a statement referencing the Kentucky Open Meetings Act (KRS 61.8 series, cited in the read statement) saying the city should have sought legal advice during the committee’s formation and apologizing for the inadvertent omission.
To remedy the situation, staff said the committee has been advised of its status as a public agency and that future meetings will be open to the public and properly noticed under KRS 61.820 or 61.823 as appropriate. The clerk said materials summarizing committee meetings had been posted to the city website (GeorgetownKY.gov, departments > affordable housing and homeless prevention). The council accepted the read statement; staff described it as corrective and remedial action to increase transparency.
Council members and public commenters thanked staff for the corrective steps and emphasized the need for greater oversight when advisory groups are formed.
