1325                                      BOARD MEETING NEWS COVERAGE                              1325

News media representatives are welcome to attend all of the regular and special meetings of the Board other than closed sessions.

            A.  Media Access

1.  Any radio or television station may broadcast an open meeting. Any person may photograph, film, or record an open meeting.

2.  The placement and use of any equipment necessary to broadcast, film, or record a meeting may be regulated by the Board in order to prevent undue interference with the meeting.

3.  If a meeting room is too small to accommodate all of the personnel and equipment necessary to broadcast, film, or record a meeting, the Board may require equipment to be pooled. If the news media requests an alternate meeting place in order to facilitate news coverage and the Board grants the request, then the news media making the request are responsible to pay any additional costs which may be involved in securing an alternate site. The Board must act in good faith in carrying out these provisions.

4.  If the Board holds a meeting by conference telephone call or other similar means, it must provide some means for members of the public to listen to the meeting. Notice of an electronic meeting must specify how public access will be provided. The Board may charge each listener the actual costs of the service.

5.  If written ballots are used, Board members must sign their ballots and the ballots must be made available for public inspection immediately following the meeting.

            B.  Acting by Reference

1.  The Board may not deliberate, vote, or take any action by referring to a letter, number, or some other designation with the intention of making it impossible for the audience to understand what action is being conducted.

2.  However, action by reference to an agenda is permitted provided copies of the agenda are available to the public during the meeting.