Saturday, June 9, 2012

Public Comments- City of Angels Camp

    HOT OFF THE BY-PASS

     We e-mailed the City Administrator of Angels Camp, Michael McHatten, to ask if the statement in the section relating to Public Comments on the agenda is correct.
   The public is aware that elected officials do not like public comments, however, the statement that it is unlawful for an elected official to make any comment in reply to a voting member of the public is, we feel,  questionable at best.
   Actually, we often see elected officials either make a comment or direct the voter to the place they need to get help, or in some other way make a comment in response.
    We searched the Brown Act, from where McHatten stated it was lifted, and found the part that said they can make no decision on a non-agendized item (which public comments is), but no where did we find the statement that it was unlawful to make any comment to the voter.
    Mr. McHatten told us that he was referring it to his City Attorney for clarification, but felt he was correct. That was a week ago. No one has returned with their answer as of today, Saturday, June 9, 2012.

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