WJHL Archives - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

17 May, 2014

Does private dinner between two governing bodies violate TN’s Sunshine Law?
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Does private dinner between two governing bodies violate TN’s Sunshine Law?

Open Meetings

Does private dinner between two governing bodies violate TN’s Sunshine Law?

By Deborah Fisher|2014-06-11T10:27:30-05:00May 17, 2014|Categories: Open Meetings|Tags: Johnson City, Kingsport, Tennessee Open Meetings Act, WJHL|1 Comment

Kingsport and Johnson City boards plan secret dinner to get to know each other, but may discuss annexations, economic development and even a regional park. Investigative reporter Nate Morabito with WJHL in Johnson City pressed government officials in a May 16 story about a private dinner meeting planned between the entire Johnson City Commission and the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Alderman. Does it violate the Sunshine Law, which says all meetings of governing bodies should be open to the public? Morabito digs into that question and quotes Tennessee Coalition for Open Government pointing out how difficult it would be to have an entire city commission together and control discussion of public business [...]

Greene County school board chairman apologizes over TV camera ban

By Deborah Fisher|2015-08-18T07:55:08-05:00March 14, 2014|Categories: Open Meetings, school boards|Tags: Greene County, schools, Tennessee Open Meetings Act, tv camera ban, WJHL|1 Comment

The Greene County school board chairman apologized last night to "the board and to the public" over the TV camera ban from its public meeting last month, according to WJHL News Channel 11 and The Greeneville Sun. The board also proposed language that would change its camera policy. The policy allows the school board to prohibit cameras, including TV cameras, and is recommended by the Tennessee School Boards Association. However, an Tennessee Attorney General's opinion about banning cameras from public meetings says they should only be prohibited if they create a safety problem or disturb the orderly conduct of the meeting. Neither of those reasons was given to the WJHL [...]

Greene County school board bans TV cameras to avoid “sound-bite view”

By Deborah Fisher|2015-08-18T07:56:19-05:00February 28, 2014|Categories: Open Meetings, school boards|Tags: Greene County, schools, Tennessee Open Meetings Act, tv camera ban, WJHL|1 Comment

(March 14 Update: The Greene County school board chairman apologized on March 13 for the TV camera ban. The board proposed language to change its policy to permit "cameras or any other recording devices" in its meetings, with a majority vote required to remove them only if they become a "hindrance or pose a threat to public safety." The new policy is to be voted on at the next Greene County school board meeting. To hear what board members said at the March 13 meeting, click here.) Previously published: The Greene County School Board last night banned a TV camera from its meeting, with the director of schools saying on [...]