the lamar county commission and a host of others discussed courthouse security and security at the tax commissioner's office this morning.
no official action was taken.
all courthouse doors are now secured. visitors must enter through the front door and pass through a security checkpoint.
i have no problem with securing the courthouse. i do have a problem with discussing it behind closed doors. these are public buildings operated and secured at taxpayer expense.
georgia's open meetings law allows closed door sessions for the discusison of security. it does not, however, require them. in fact. closed meetings are never required!
what do you think?
see barnesville.com for more info
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21 comments:
Hey everyone in this county should realize or have that this county does exaclty what it wants to!! Hell they also make up their own laws and soforth. Small town BS that will never go away. That's why I dont and will not get involved anymore. I know that may not be right on my part but what the heck, no one listens, right?
I wonder if a closed meeting violated the sunshine laws?
It is not a surprise that the Commission would discuss Courthouse Security behind closed doors. After all, they go behind close doors all too often.
Mostly, I believe, because they do not want the public asking questions and/or because an open meeting will usually show their inability to deal with issues that might require some intellectual discourse.
Whether, technically they complied with the Sunshine Law is not the issue, for sure they violated the “spirit of the Sunshine Law”. Open Government!!!!
The Lamar County Commission, collectively, are not the sharpest knives in the drawer. One day the citizens will come to realize they are getting exactly what they vote into office.
Is it any wonder the vast majority of Lamar County Citizens hold the Commission in such low esteem!!!!
What is this sudden panic about the security at the Court House? Why the Secret Meetings? Are the Dudes afraid somebody may want to get even? Makes you wonder.
I wouldn't call it a secret when they announce the meeting a few days in advance and tell you what they are going to be talking about. It doesn't bother me that they are talking about security at the courthouse behind close doors. To be honest, I have never even thought about security at the courthouse and I visit frequently.
Maybe they wanted to discuss security behind closed doors to forsee upcoming problems with the security, before an open meeting. Then when the open meeting comes up they will have educated answers to questions formulated by the public. No one ever thinks about security when nothing is happening. But the security rest upon the sheriff's shoulders and if something were to happen everyone would be knocking his door down wondering why measures were not taken in advance. I think it is a great idea to have a closed door meeting prior to having an open meeting.
Doesn't really bother me. Security measures probably don't need a public airing so that they are not easily by-passed.
I doesnt bother me at all. I dont know why anyone would gripe about this. Not everything needs to be made public, especially when it involves security.
Come on people use a little common sense! Would you rather they tell all? Make it easier for someone to do something illegal? I think you need to find something else to gripe about!
Snoop couldn't get a scoop, so he's not a happy camper.
You hit the nail on the head WI JOHN GALT!!!! I agree with their inability to deal with issues spoken from the public..Especially from Mr. W...He's never answered questions I've spoke with him about correctly, I had to speak with the Sheriff.
The courthouse is a public building and as such any measures restricting access to it should be discussed and approved publically. Our commissioners meet secretly so they can act as they want without regard for the people they serve.
Reading some of these comments makes me understand fully why everything is not thrown out for the public. The officials we elected to do these things and those who are involved with the Couthouse offices were at a very necessary meeting. The public does not have these jobs. Security is not security when you tell everyone what you are doing.
I have been taught and have taught my children that we are to honor those in authority, not constantly berate and ridicule them. Sometimes, we just need to trust those that we have elected.
Crime and violence are at an all time high, and I personally want to be protected. I know we are not Atlanta, but the tragedies that took place in the Courthouse in Atlanta could happen here if we don't have good security.
Stop whining, and appreciate that this matter is being dealt with. Your life or the life of a loved one may be saved by some of the results of these meetings that some of you are so critical of.
Security methods SHOULD be discussed in private, not public. What's the point if everyone knows the weaknesses?
were there a specific threat, i would agree with you.
however, closing a meeting just to discuss what doors to lock and where to put a glorified metal detector is somewhat beyond the pale and not what the exclusion in the law was meant for.
If it was a closed (and secret) meeting, how do you know all they talked about was which doors to lock and where to place the metal detector. That's all they told you they talked about.
next time you visit the courthouse, let me know if you feel more secure as a result of all the secrecy.
The county commissioners can meet in the courthouse or in a wood shed because the sheriff if in charge of security of the courtroom.
I am just surprised that Jay Matthews would permit a secret meeting; but he most like gave political promises when running for the commission chairman and we all know what they are worth.
i am NOT saying the meeting was illegal. under georgia law, they are allowed to discuss courthouse security in executive session...
i don't think jay or any of the commissioners have done anything wrong.
security needed to be tightened and has been tightened.
Scoop...you are a newspaper reporter, and your frustrations are understood coming from that veiwpoint. I know that there are concerns from those in the courthouse, and sometimes these legal meetings are necessary without the media, because they simply do not need to be discussed openly.
By the way, where the "glorified" metal detector is may save your life one day. Let the County Commisioners do their job just like you have the freedom to do yours. Just because you didn't get this story quickly does not make you any less than the good newspaper guy that you are.
heck i just want somebody to tell me what those people on the photo page are doing to those turkeys that dont look right somebody needs to call the law
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