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Group alleges violation of open meeting law in drafting transportation plan
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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Three opponents to the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board’s (BRTB) proposed long-term plan have filed a complaint with a state agency alleging the board violated state law by holding closed-door meetings to develop the transportation proposal.
A complaint filed Friday with the State Open Meetings Law Compliance Board by Art Cohen and Irene Paulson, members of the transportation board’s Citizens Advisory Committee, and concerned resident Saul Wilson claims the board conducted two closed-door “work sessions” on Sept. 5 and Oct. 9 to work on the board’s Transportation Outlook 2035 long-range plan. The complaint says the BRTB, a public organization, is required to meet in open session.
A vote on the plan is scheduled for the board’s meeting at 9 a.m. today at its offices at 2700 Lighthouse Point East in Canton.
“We did this because of a strong feeling that the board’s failure to include the public at the two work sessions ... really made it impossible for us to advocate and work with them to make sure more public transportation was included in the plan,” Cohen said.
In their complaint, the three signers seek a written opinion from the Open Meetings Law Compliance Board on the issue, but acknowledge that it may not impede passing of the transportation plan.
In response to the alleged closed-door meeting, the BRTB acknowledged holding informal work sessions to consider revisions to the plan but “did not believe it was in violation of Maryland’s Open Meeting Act.”
BRTB spokeswoman Barbara Herron said the board had not received a copy of the group’s complaint and declined to comment on it.
Board chairman Ken Ulman, who is also Howard County’s executive, would not comment on the complaint until the Open Meetings Law Compliance Board had rendered its opinion.
The Transportation Outlook 2035 revised plan would defer six highway projects to provide additional funding for the MARC train system, including an East Baltimore station, and outlines spending for capital expansion.
However, opponents claim the plan does not take into consideration increased transportation funding recently passed by the General Assembly.
Earlier this month, 17 organizations and 24 individuals signed a joint statement urging the board to revise the plan and provide a higher percentage of funding to transit, as well as delay voting on the plan.
acannarsa@baltimoreexaminer.com, acahall@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
9:51 AM MST on Thu., Jul. 10, 2008 re: "Critics question conduct of Baltimore Regional Transportation Board"
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4:09 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 6, 2007
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11:05 AM MST on Wed., Dec. 5, 2007
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9:34 AM MST on Tue., Nov. 27, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
I suppose by "public input," this group of people that is accountable to no one means that they want their own way.
1 agree | 1 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
More accurate is that the open meetings law board can issue advisory opinions saying "stop or we'll say stop again and again and again..."
50 agree | 45 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
...and then there were three. The open meetings board has a new chairperson. Change is good...if the filling of such a vacancy is protected from political incluence and cronyism.
62 agree | 46 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Good luck. the open meetings board can write a letter saying "stop or we'll say stop again." Maryland's open meetings law is a joke.
64 agree | 62 disagree
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