Lower Merion Citizens for Responsible Budgeting (CRB)
Letter to Editor Re: Commissioners Flaunt Illegal Pre-Board Meetings
Jaunuary 14 , 2010
At this time of year, many people are plagued with Seasonally Affected Disorder (SAD) syndrome due to deprivation of sunlight. I, too, find myself sad, but due to a deplorable lack of Sunshine in the boardroom of the Lower Merion commissioners.
The first week of the new year started with the January 4th election of officers which had been preordained by a closed meeting of the Democratic caucus. Unfortunately, the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act (sometimes referred to as the open meeting law) carved out a caucus exception only for the state legislature. Thus the Lower Merion Democrats, being a majority of the Board, met illegally to decide the outcome of the election, and parenthetically, who knows what else.
Soon thereafter, Commissioner Reed bemoaned the apparent rift that he believes has developed between the Republican and Democratic commissioners, telling Main Line Times’ Cheryl Allison ‘“it was regrettable that Republicans boycotted the [board’s annual] retreat” last June’. His regret completely ignores the fact that an annual retreat sponsored solely by and for the Lower Merion commissioners is entirely impermissible under the Sunshine Act.
Then two days later on January 6th, the Board had a discussion on the awarding of a bid for a fountain in a pocket park to be created at the intersection of Ardmore and Lancaster Avenues. Several commissioners noted that they were unaware of the “park” design, nor of a grant swap originally designated for Schauffle Plaza. Commissioner Reed, however, took exception to these protestations saying, “I guess I’m a little astounded... No one seemed to object in any of the discussions we had with regard to pre-board items.” Angela Murray of the Planning Department corroborated this saying, “It’s been presented to pre-board meetings.”
Herein lies a serious ongoing problem. The full board meets behind closed doors before public meetings in what is styled “pre-board” meetings. These meetings typically last several hours with extensive agendas not exempted by the Sunshine Act. Though the Board will couch this activity in terms of merely “receiving” staff reports, as Commissioner Reed’s remarks clearly indicate, frank discussion is expected. Obviously action (or inaction) from these meetings is considered direction from the Board to the staff. And it is patently illegal.
Within the course of the first three days of the year the leadership of the Board has unashamedly admitted, nay flaunted, their practice of ignoring the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act.
Fortunately, those who suffer with SAD syndrome can be consoled that, as difficult as their present situation is, it will eventually improve with the lengthening days of spring. We, the citizens of Lower Merion, however, can have no such assurance that Sunshine will eventually prevail unless we point out its suppression in every instance.
Audrey Romasco - Bryn Mawr