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Steve Wright tells Lyon County advisory boards to keep decision-making in public
Summary
At a county training, attorney Steve Wright and staff reviewed Nevada's open-meeting law, highlighting common violations (emails, walking quorums), agenda posting and minutes rules, and best practices for public comment and remote participation.
Steve Wright, speaking to Lyon County citizen advisory boards, opened a training session by urging members to "remember" the core of Nevada's open-meeting law: "things are done openly in the public and not behind closed doors." The presentation covered when deliberations and actions must occur in an open meeting, what constitutes a quorum, and common pitfalls that lead to complaints.
Why it matters: advisory boards routinely advise the county and can affect residents' rights; failing to follow notice, agenda or deliberation rules risks voiding actions and may trigger civil fines. Wright repeatedly warned about interactions outside agendized meetings that can amount to a collective decision.
Wright walked members through a practical checklist for meeting preparation: confirm the body is subject to the open-meeting law, ensure items are agendized and posted with the required information, and verify whether each item permits action. He reminded attendees that agendas generally must be posted at least three working days before a meeting and that the agenda should be specific enough to let the public understand what will be considered.
On communications, Wright gave examples of common violations: sequential one-on-one contacts among members (a "walking forum"), group emails with "reply all," and social-media exchanges that create the appearance of deliberation. "Pretty soon, it appears like there is discussion on that item among the board members," he said while illustrating how well-intentioned replies can turn into an unlawful collective discussion.
The training also addressed meeting logistics and records. Wright and county staff said draft minutes must be made available within 30 days of the meeting and recordings retained; a meeting recording and draft minutes are a recommended means to meet the retention requirement. When asked about using automated tools to generate minutes, Wright said AI can be a useful starting point but must be carefully reviewed: once minutes are approved they become the official record.
On public participation, Wright and staff advised two public-comment periods (one at the start and one at the end) are common practice for Lyon County advisory boards, and that boards may also allow public comment before each action. However, they cautioned that public comment is generally not a time for prolonged Q&A that could transform into deliberation.
County staff liaison Martha Tapnath reviewed administrative duties: submit agenda drafts early for county review, use county email and Google Drive for official records, and provide audio and minutes for posting and retention. Staff asked CAB secretaries to send audio and draft minutes promptly so the county can meet statutory posting and audit obligations.
The training concluded with a reminder about corrective options if a violation occurs: disclose the issue on the record, allow public comment, and re-agendize the item if necessary. Wright noted consequences can include advisory-opinion findings, fines and—depending on the violation—voided actions. He encouraged boards to contact county staff for help when in doubt.
