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Attorney warns boards: 'Serial meetings' outside public view violate Idaho law
Summary
City Attorney Victor Verlegas told Eagle volunteers that serial communications among decision‑makers outside a public meeting risk violating Idaho open‑meetings law and described common examples and remedies.
City Attorney Victor Verlegas told attendees that communications among a quorum or informal chains of messages that lead to a prearranged concurrence outside a public meeting can violate Idaho open‑meetings law. "Serial meetings are a no no," he said, adding that group emails or chains of one‑to‑one messages that build agreement are common sources of violations.
Verlegas urged boards and commissions to avoid developing concurrence outside public proceedings and recommended routing substantive discussions through city staff so the matter can be agendized and debated in public. He cited Idaho Supreme Court case law as the basis for the prohibition and advised that disclosure and formal agendizing are the proper paths for deliberation.
