Contributing writer Bonnie Cranmer
Mayor Lenny Macdonald welcomed council members and visitors to the town council meeting in December. In attendance were Tommy Zimmerman, Vice Mayor, Karen Crush, Robyn Foster and Eddie Lee, with Nina Davis, clerk. After members discussed regular town business, attorney Chris Dadak was introduced. Dadak was present to advise the council and shared some important updates.
Dadak stated his gratitude to work with the council and offered some legal best practices “of which, as your town attorney I need to make sure you are aware.”
All local elected officials are required to complete training on the Conflict of Interests Act (COIA) once every two years. This training is provided by the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council and is now available on the council’s website:
https://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/
Documentation of each training must be maintained by Nina Davis, town clerk. If members have not completed this training in the last two years or are closely approaching the two-year mark, Dadak recommended this training as soon as possible and to provide documentation of completing the training to Davis.
Dadak also provided the council with information regarding the FOIA obligations related to email and public meetings. All emails to and from council members in the capacity as a council member, including those sent to a personal email address, are public records subject to FOIA. Dadak recommended each council member set up a folder in their email inbox where all town related emails can be preserved.
Any time three or more members of a public body (or a quorum, if less) discuss public business simultaneously, it’s a meeting. This includes instant messaging and can even at times include emails. For every meeting, notice must be provided, minutes taken, and the meeting be open to the public. All meetings are presumed open unless a specific exemption applies.
Dadak will be providing ongoing recommendations to the council and is a welcome addition to town council meetings and business. Town council meets each month on the third Monday at 7p.m. in the Town Hall building. Their next meeting is Feb.17.
