Officials' texts during meetings violate law

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - Indiana’s public access counselor says city and county council members and other public officials who text each other during meetings are violating the spirit and letter of the state’s Open Door Law.

Luke Britt tells the Tribune-Star (https://bit.ly/10MPuAz ) he considers texting during meetings to be closed-door communication.

The newspaper reports Cliff Lambert, executive director of the Terre Haute Department of Redevelopment, sent an email to members of the City Council stating he has observed texting occurring between some City Council members. The nine members said the only thing they texted each other during meetings were how they were feeling.

An Illinois appeals court has ruled that text messages and emails sent by city council members during meetings were public records subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

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Information from: Tribune-Star, https://www.tribstar.com