Editorial: Something to consider

Ramona school board has a long-standing tradition we suggest the water board consider.

Rather than start an open meeting and five minutes later call a closed session — as occurred last Tuesday afternoon — schedule the closed session before the start of the open-to-the-public meeting or hold it after the open session.

It may not seem a big deal, except to members of the public the public agency serves — and we believe it shows consideration for those who take the time to attend.

Most people do not attend meetings of their public agencies. They depend on the representatives they elect to serve them well. When they do schedule time to be at a meeting, they don’t expect to be told to leave the room for half an hour just five minutes after the meeting starts. For some at last Tuesday’s meeting, this was their first time attending, and they left shaking their heads.

Yes, the closed session was on the agenda of the water board’s June 23 meeting. That isn’t the point.

What we’re suggesting is that the five elected directors consider when they schedule closed sessions. When board president Darrell Beck asked district staff how long the closed session would last, the reply was about a half hour. It lasted about 30 minutes, so starting the meeting with a closed session, noticing it that way on the public agenda and noticing the time the open session will start is possible.

School trustees regularly schedule a closed session before their open-to-the-public portion of meetings. In those closed sessions, they discuss items such as employee negotiations, personnel and student discipline. If their closed-door discussion goes longer than anticipated, they start the open meeting on schedule and, when that is over, return to closed session.

It’s something the water board may want to consider.