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KWH    P.O. Box 1243    Westwood, CA   96137           530-256-2066                   FAX 530-256-3963

e-mail address:   executive.committee@kanwehelp.com

December 5, 2003                                         

LMUD Board of Directors

65 S. Roop Street

Susanville, CA 96130

 Re:  Violation of the Brown Act, December 4, 2003

 Dear LMUD Board of Directors,

 Without any correction or objection, the LMUD Board of Directors, allowed Wayne Langston to violate the Brown Act on December 4, 2003 at your regular meeting.

1.     The Brown Act (54954.2 a) states the following:

 “No action or discussion shall be undertaken on any item not appearing on the posted agenda, except that members of a legislative body or its staff may briefly respond to statements made or questions posed by persons exercising their public testimony rights under Section 54954.3” 

There was no public testimony. 

Wayne Langston introduced a recommendation to the Board for their consideration a change in the Public Comment portion of the LMUD agenda. A detailed description was given by Wayne Langston to look back for two years at the public comment rules. Wayne Langston stated, to the Board Members, that he is tired of the criticism.

 Cure and remedy: 

 Wayne Langston has proven that he has no respect for California’s open meeting law.  This Board should take action to remove Wayne Langston from the chair position. His abuses have been well documented.

 

2.     The Brown Act (54954.3 c) states the following: 

The legislative body of a local agency shall not prohibit public criticism of the policies, procedures, programs, or services of the agency, or of the acts of omissions of the legislative body”

Wayne Langston, during a speaker’s five-minute public comment period (on Agenda item 5B) did interrupt a speaker because he did not like what the speaker was saying. The speaker’s time had not expired. Wayne Langston asked the speaker to leave the meeting because he did not like what the speaker was saying.  

Cure and Remedy: 

Wayne Langston has proven that he has no respect for California’s open meeting law.  This Board should take action to remove Wayne Langston from the chair position. His abuses have been well documented.

 

3.     The Board stated on the December 4, 2003 LMUD agenda (Agenda item 6) the following: 

“6. REPORT OF ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION (IF ANY)

 Further this LMUD Agenda also stated the following: 

CLOSED SESSION: At any time during this meeting, the Board may adjourn to a closed session pursuant to the Brown Act.  

The Brown Act (54954.2(a) states very clearly the following: 

“At least 72 hours before a regular meeting, the legislative body of the local agency, or its designee, shall post an agenda containing a brief description of each item of business to be transacted or discussed at the meeting, including items to be discussed in closed session.”

 

“No action or discussion shall be undertaken on any item not appearing on the posted agenda.” 

“Prior to discussing any item pursuant to this subdivision, the legislative body shall publicly identify the item.” 

The Brown Act (54954.2 b 1 (as defined in 54956.5) states that this

Board may call an “unagendized” closed session for work stoppage or a natural disaster.  

Cure and Remedy:

 This Board must clearly understand that they must post and identify, 72 hours in advance of a regular meeting and 24 hours in advance of a special meeting, all closed sessions.  

4.     The Brown Act (54954.1) states the following:

 “Any person may request that a copy of the agenda, or a copy of all the documents constituting the agenda packet, of meeting a legislative body be mailed to that person. Upon receipt of the written of the legislative body or its designee shall cause the requested materials to be mailed at the time the agenda is posted pursuant to Section 54954.2 and 54956 or upon distribution to all, or a majority of all, of the members of a legislative body, whichever occurs first.”

 The LMUD Board posted the Agenda on December 1, 2003. I have requested the Agenda to be faxed to me. I received only the Agenda on December 1, 2003. 

 Wayne Langston announced, at the December 4, 2003 regular LMUD meeting, that he receives an advance copy because he is involved with creating the agenda. Wayne Langston stated that he did not know when the other Board members receive their packets.  

Cure and Remedy: 

Mail or fax the agenda with all documents constituting the agenda packet the day the agenda is publicly posted.

 The entire Board is responsible for Wayne Langston’s abuses. You sit there and allow him to violate not only California’s open meeting law but the First Amendment rights afforded to every citizen of this country.  This LMUD Board of Directors has exposed LMUD to federal complaints of civil rights violations.

 

Sincerely,

 

KWH Executive Committee

 

cc:  California First Amendment Coalition

        Cooper, White, Cooper

       Robert Burns, Lassen County District Attorney