A representative government is dependent on an informed electorate
State lawmakers get plenty of perks – ornate Capitol offices, attentive staff, free parking on the Square, daily allowances, generous pay, health insurance and pensions. But the biggest perk of all is hardly noticed or ever discussed. Senators and representatives get to meet with their partisan pals behind closed doors in secret meetings whenever they […]
Continue ReadingGov. Jim Doyle’s proposed budget bill includes a provision to greatly expand expungement of criminal convictions. Under current law, expungement (including the complete purging of records) is available only for persons who are convicted of misdemeanor offenses committed before they reach age 21. The proposed change would make a person eligible for expungement up until […]
Continue ReadingWisconsin Freedom of Information Council Minutes of the April 10, 2008 meeting, Capital Newspapers, Madison, Wis. Present: John Intebritsen, Michael Buelow, Ann Frisch, Diane Martin, Anita Weier, Dave Zweifel, Peter Fox, Doug Wojcik, Roger Schneider, Bob Welch, Michelle Vetterkind, Christa Westerberg, Thomas Koetting, Gordon Govier, Bill Lueders, Bob Drechsel, Bob Dreps, Katy Reeder, Jim Mueller, […]
Continue ReadingMinutes of Jan. 27, 2009 meeting Capital Newspapers, Madison, Wis. Present: Dick Mial, Dave Zweifel, Christa Westerberg, Thomas Koetting, Eric Barber, Bob Dreps, Fred Olson, Dee Hall, Gina Duwe, Doug Wojcik, Peter Fox, Bob Drechsel, Bob Welch, Roger Schneider, Anita Weier, Diane Martin, Bill Lueders, Gordon Grovier, Tim Kelley, Andy Hall. Meeting called to order at 1:30 […]
Continue ReadingMinutes of Oct. 7, 2008 meeting The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council was called to order on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, at 1:30 p.m. Present were Bill Lueders, Christa Westerberg, Thomas Koetting, Dee Hall, Dick Record, Doug Wojcik, Gina Duwe, Gordon Govier, Bob Welch, Tim Kelley, Roger Schneider, Bob Dreps, Peter Fox, Diane Martin, Ann […]
Continue ReadingFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008 Contacts: Bill Lueders, President of Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, (608) 251-5627 or blueders@isthmus.com Jason Shepard, Ph.D. Candidate, UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication, (608) 445-8448 or jmshepar@wisc.edu For more information, visit www.wisfoic.org. 3 in 10 public-records requests not properly fulfilled, new study finds A statewide public […]
Continue ReadingFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Bill Lueders (608) 251-5627 March 12, 2009 State FOI Council Bestows Annual “Opee” Awards The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, as part of national Sunshine Week (sunshineweek.org), March 15-21, is bestowing its third annual round of awards in recognition of people and institutions that have shaped the fortunes of open government […]
Continue ReadingQ: A county board went into a closed session meeting last night, and I’m interested in finding out what it discussed. How can I do that? A: You are free to call the individual board members and try to get them to talk to you. There is nothing in the state Open Meetings Law that […]
Continue ReadingQ: Can a governmental body vote in closed session? If so, how can I get access to those votes? A: Yes, a governmental body can vote in closed session under certain circumstances. “A governmental body can vote to take action on matters discussed at a closed session if such action is an integral part of […]
Continue ReadingQ: Do public bodies that meet in closed session then have to vote in open session? A: It’s not clear because the case law is inconclusive. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Wis. Stat. § 14.90 (1959), a predecessor to the current open meetings law, authorized a governmental body to vote in closed session on […]
Continue ReadingQ: Can a governmental body go back into open session after convening in closed session? A: Yes, as long as the notice requirements are still met. A governmental body is prohibited from reconvening in open session in the twelve hours following a closed session, unless specific public notice is given. This public notice must be […]
Continue ReadingQ: What constitutes a “meeting”? A: If one-half or more members (that is, a quorum) are present then there is a rebuttable presumption that the members are conducting business and, thus, a meeting is taking place. Sec. 19.82(2), Stats. The presumption can be overcome, however, with evidence that the members did not discuss or act […]
Continue ReadingQ: I’ve heard the terms “walking quorum ” and “negative quorum.” What do they mean? A: A walking quorum is a series of meetings, telephone conferences, or some other means of communication such that groups of less than a quorum are effectively meeting and can arrive at a consensus or understanding regarding governmental business that, […]
Continue ReadingQ: How can I get copies of documents that will be discussed at a meeting in advance of the meeting? A: This issue is governed by the Open Records Law, not the Open Meetings Law. Generally, documents circulated to the members of the governmental body in advance of a meeting are presumed public, subject to […]
Continue ReadingQ: How much notice must be given before a meeting? A: Section 19.84(3), Stats., requires 24 hours notice “unless for good cause such notice is impossible, or impractical.” Even where there is good cause for shortened notice, notice of a meeting cannot be less than 2 hours. “Good cause” is not defined but should be […]
Continue ReadingQ: The meeting notice includes a discussion of “miscellaneous” items. Does that notice comply with the Open Meetings Law? A: The statutory standard for noticing a meeting requires that the subject matter be set forth “in such a form as is reasonably likely to apprise members of the public and the news media thereof.” Sec. […]
Continue ReadingQ: When is a corporation/organization a “quasi-governmental corporation” subject to the Open Meetings Law? A: The Open Meetings Law applies only to governmental bodies as defined by section 19.82(1), Stats., and includes governmental and quasi-governmental corporations. In addition to the statutory definition, the DOJ’s Compliance Guide includes a helpful listing of some specific “governmental bodies” […]
Continue ReadingQ: Are electronic records subject to the Open Records Law? A: Yes. Electronic records are subject to the Open Records Law under section 19.32(2), Stats. Where a record originated, and where or how it is stored, does not affect the public’s right of access. For example, if a public official conducts public business using her […]
Continue ReadingQ: I sent an open records request more than a week ago and I haven’t received a response. What should I do? A: It is mandatory for a custodian to respond to your open records request “as soon as practicable and without delay.” Sec. 19.35(4)(a), Stats. While the law does not require a response within […]
Continue ReadingQ: How much can a governmental entity charge for copies of records requested under the Open Records Law? A: Copy fees are limited to the “actual, necessary and direct cost” of reproduction unless otherwise provided by law. Sec. 19.35(3)(a), Stats. The policy of the Wisconsin Department of Justice is that photocopies should cost around 15 […]
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