Editorial from Aug. 20, 2007

“Brown Act violations”

By Danielle Seckler

   There has been a continual discussion about Brown Act violations in this valley. Last year, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office put some more muscle into their Public Integrity Unit (PIU), which investigates allegations and determines who to correct the problem(s) including criminal proceedings.

   The Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency, serves the communities of Flamingo Heights, Landers, and Johnson Valley. The PIU received multiple complaints against the board of directors. The item which was of most interest to us was the “allegations of repeated incidents of failure of the Board to allow members of the community to address the Board at the meetings regarding specific Agenda items.” Here were the findings of the PIU regarding this specific item:

“The purpose of the Brown Act is for the community to be heard, even if the members of the Board don’t want to hear what the public has to say. Government Code Section, 54954.3 (c), requires the Board to listen, even to its critics. The attendees should be allowed to address the Board on any issue that is on the Agenda.”

   It is our contention that the San Bernardino County Park Advisory Commission board has violated this at each and every meeting they have had for years. According to the every agenda the Park District has given to the public, it states:

“PUBLIC COMMENT: The Chairman and Commission invite anyone wishing to address the Commission to do so at this time on any subject within the jurisdiction of the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District that does not appear on the agenda…”

   When ever an item is on the agenda, the park commission should open it up to the public for their comment. This park commission does not do that and has refused to allow the public to speak. By the information provided by the PIU in their Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency, it seems the interpretation of the PIU would most definitely apply to the Park Commission.

   No agency that decides on what should be done with taxpayer’s money should be allowed to silence the public. This has been a complaint from the public and our news media for several years now. It is the specific purpose of the Brown Act to allow the public to all information and to speak about items on any agency’s agenda. This includes all regular meetings and workshops.

   What will it take to wake up this board that they work for the people and it is their obligation to hear what they have to say?

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