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SUNNY Temp: 53 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 19, 2002 RVTD board debates conduct, rejects audit By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune Even the location of Wednesday’s meeting was grounds for debate for the Rogue Valley Transportation District board of directors, prompting allegations of public meeting law violations. "I’m here to tell you its illegal," board member Ed Chapman told chairwoman Eva Avery during the regular meeting. "I take this very seriously. ... This has to stop." The district board room was filled to near capacity during Wednesday night’s meeting. Board members in August had voted to hold the September meeting at a bigger facility in White City to accommodate more people. But Avery changed the location earlier this month because board member Susan McKenzie was hosting a power point presentation and required an overhead projector. During the meeting, Chapman asked Avery why he wasn’t notified regarding the location change. Avery said she polled three board members — McKenzie, Kay Harrison and Carol Bennett — by phone before making the decision herself. "I only need four (board members)," Avery said. "You only need a quorum." RVTD attorney Martial Henault told Avery her actions were not a "clean" way of business, and Avery apologized. But Chapman told Avery her actions violated public meeting laws. He said Avery should have brought up the issue during a public meeting. Avery then told Chapman he was out of order. "If this is an illegal meeting, I think we should adjourn the meeting right now," Harrison suggested. Henault told the board a Mail Tribune article outlining the meeting’s location change had been published Tuesday. That article properly advertised the location change, he said. "Whether the public meetings law was violated, I’m not going to comment," Henault added. The board spent very little time discussing member Stan Druben’s resignation, which was accepted. McKenzie cast the only vote in opposition. The board agreed to advertise the open position and appoint a new member later. McKenzie held a presentation on July’s fiscal reports and pointed out what she called inconsistencies. She asked the board to approve an internal audit. "These data sets do not provide me as a board member financial information to certify the financial state of the district," McKenzie said. "I do not feel confident that we have adequate policies and procedures." The board already hires an outside CPA firm annually for auditing review services. General Manager Sherrin Coleman said McKenzie implied that her staff was incompetent and dishonest. Coleman said despite the expense, she would support an internal audit. "Then I would like an apology from this board to my staff," Coleman added. The board voted twice, and the motion ended in a 3-3 tie vote each time. Under district policy, that means the motion fails. The board changed a previous "no vote" to an endorsement regarding a proposed regional transportation plan. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S