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.

1325.1

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

1325.2

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 but not in such a way as to frustrate the use of the equipment or the coverage of the meeting.

1325.3

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.

1325.4

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 a fee of up to twenty-five dollars ($25.00) to defray costs.

1325.5

If secret ballots or written ballots are used, members must sign their ballots and the ballots must be made available for public inspection immediately following the meeting. Minutes of any meeting must indicate the vote of each member in any secret or written ballot. Ballots may not be destroyed until the minutes of the particular meeting have been approved.

1325.6

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.

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

Legal Reference: G.S. 143-318.15 and G.S. 143-318.16

Adopted: May 4, 1981

Revised: June 24, 2004