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Bracken EMS board apologizes, corrects error
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By WENDY MITCHELL
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BROOKSVILLE -- After Bracken County EMS Board held what it called a private meeting at an undisclosed location on Jan. 30, 2007, a complaint was filed by The ledger Independent with Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo, saying the meeting violated Kentucky's Open Meetings act.
According to a letter received by The Ledger Independent from James Ringo, assistant attorney general, date Feb. 23, 2007, the issue of the illegal meeting became moot once the mistake was allegedly corrected by the board in a later meeting.
In the reply Ringo writes, (the Bracken EMS Board) "mooted the issue raised by Mary Ann Kearns, Managing Editor, The Ledger Independent in her Feb. 7, 2007, appeal by acknowledging certain irregularities in the notice and conduct of the Jan. 30, 2007 meeting and implementing corrective measures."
Ringo further writes that the EMS board does not contest its status as a public agency and has acknowledged its obligation to comply with the requirements of the Open Meetings act, including KRS 61.823, relating to notice of special meetings.
By conceding at the Feb. 13, regular public EMS board meeting, that the special meeting had contained errors the complaint became a moot issue, wrote Ringo.
The Ledger Independent, which has a letter on file with the ambulance service asking to be notified of all meetings, was not informed that the Feb. 7, meeting would address the Open Meetings issue or that the board planned to take corrective measures.
"The Ledger Independent is only interested in protecting the public's right to know and the board's responsibility to abide by the law," said Kearns.
In a copy of a letter sent to Ringo by Bracken EMS Board attorney Ed Massey, Massey wrote that the, "matter brought forth the open meetings appeal has been resolved."
Massey wrote that he had notified the board chairperson that the (Jan. 30) meeting should be declared null and void.
The special meeting was held to interview candidates for a posted job position entitled EMS administrator. Though any actions of the special meeting were void, two executive sessions were held during the subsequent regular meeting to discuss personnel matters; each time the board emerged and declared no action had been taken in the sessions, according to those in attendance.
Last week, Allen Perkins, one of two candidates originally interviewed at the void meeting, arrived at the EMS office and told employees he had been hired on Feb. 18, as financial administrator for the service.
Massey referred to the position of financial administrator, rather than the posted position opening of EMS administrator, in his reply to Ringo. According to officials, Perkins' hiring was confirmed by board member Kim Jones.
The hiring was questioned by several EMS employees who were concerned that money spent on an administrative position was money that could have been spent to correct an ongoing sleeping quarters problem at the squad building. Some employees asked to meet with Bracken County Judge-Executive Gary Riggs. Riggs listened, but declined to comment to the group, on advice of the county attorney, he said.
"What I have been told by the board attorney is that a meeting to air the concerns is being planned," said Mike Clark, Bracken County attorney.
Despite the administrative wrangling, EMS Director Betty McClanahan has asked squad members to go on with business as usual.
"They (squad members) have an important job and have continued to do a great job," said McClanahan.
Attempts to contact Massey and Jones were not successful.
For more area news, go to www.bracken-online.com
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 564-9091, ext. 276. |
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