Oct 22, 2007
Frank Mickadeit, The Orange County
Register "
D.A.
investigators targeted meetings at
which the board met in closed session to discuss
a variety of topics that went beyond the narrow
exceptions under which agencies can meet in
private. It was flagrant, obnoxious and the very
essence of what
Lord Acton was talking about when he
said, 'absolute power corrupts absolutely.' Not only
were the most routine of district matters (“head
lice”) put on agendas to be discussed in private, but
also the weightiest, such as the $38 million district
headquarters the board was building itself while
pupils were attending overcrowded, deteriorating
campuses.”
Mickadeit
is a columnist for The Orange County Register.
Tags: DA Investigations, Open Meetings Law
Oct 22, 2007
Frank Mickadeit, The Orange County
Register "
Prosecutor
Bill Feccia concluded this and many
other items discussed were not within the law. But
because the board can hide behind an attorney – one
who wasn’t even there to provide Brown Act advice in
the first place – and because Fleming told the board
he’d run the agenda items by a second attorney (which
the other attorney doesn’t recall), the D.A. would
have a hard time proving the board had both the
knowledge and intent to violate the Brown Act.
Therefore a civil, not criminal, complaint."
Mickadeit
is a columnist for The Orange County Register.
Tags: DA Investigations, Open Meetings Law, Dishonesty, Arrogance
Oct 22, 2007
Frank Mickadeit, The Orange County
Register "
The catch-all Brown
Act exception the board used to justify all
manner of secrecy was 'Evaluation of
Superintendent,' which were it strictly about
Fleming’s performance would be OK. However,
board President
Marlene Draper told the grand jury she
allowed the board to discuss just about anything in
private because 'all issues pertaining to the
management of the district fall under his
evaluation.' "
Mickadeit
is a columnist for The Orange County Register.
Tags: Open Meetings Law, DA Investigations, Marlene Draper, Arrogance, Stupidity, Dishonesty
Oct 22, 2007
Frank Mickadeit, The Orange County
Register "
Then-board
member
John Casabianca admitted, however, that
while the board used the legal excuse presumably
given by its part-time counsel, the real reason
seemed to be political when in 2005 the board
discussed in private a $4.3 million cost-overrun on
the headquarters."
Mickadeit
is a columnist for The Orange County Register.
Tags: John Casabianca, Open Meetings Law, Dishonesty
Oct 22, 2007
Frank Mickadeit, The Orange County
Register "But
there’s no doubt in my mind the
board, then populated by several members with more
than 15 years of experience, knew full well what
it was doing. Board members attend state seminars
and learn in detail about the narrow exceptions to
the Brown Act. It’s drilled into them. Lack of
knowledge on this broad a scale should not be an
excuse."
Mickadeit
is a columnist for the Orange County Register.
Tags: Fleming Trustees, Dishonesty
Sep 20, 2006
Frank Mickadeit, The Orange County
Register "Not that the
Republicans’ process has been seamless or without
drama punctuated by moments of wonderment and
hilarity. Last week, for example, Capo schools
candidate Kathleen LeBon stood before the very
committee she wanted to OK her endorsement and
questioned members’ integrity, leading to a
protracted argument. Not only did she not get the
nod, but the GOP specifically endorsed against her
(one of only six such declarations it made.)”
Mickadeit
is a columnist for the Orange County Register.
Tags: Reform Election 2006, Kathleen LeBon, Stupidity, OC GOP Central Committee
