By MONROE ROARK
Staff Writer

As of July 1, a brave new world exists as far as government's relationship with its citizens.

New state laws concerning open meetings and open records took effect on that date, and municipalities across Georgia have been working to educate themselves about what the changes mean.

About 50 members of Peachtree City's various boards, commissions and authorities listened intently one evening last week as city attorney Rick Lindsey laid out the many changes in the laws concerning open records and open meetings.

The simplest way to understand the changes, according to Lindsey, is to just “think open.” Beginning July 1, when the new laws take effect, there will have to be a great deal more openness in how municipalities conduct their business, he said.

He stressed that the changes are to foster a better relationship between citizens and governments, and the government's intent to keep that relationship open will at times determine how some gray areas in the new laws are ironed out.

After a short presentation, Lindsey fielded questions from members about some of these gray areas, such as the new stipulation that items be added to the agenda at the last minute only if there is a particular need to do so.

Falcon Field manager Jim Savage pointed out that citizens will often appear before the Airport Authority and ask that a certain issue be addressed, and he wondered if that would be possible under the new law.

Lindsey acknowledged that such a request could put a board between a “rock and a hard place,” and added that if citizens were present at a meeting to find out about a particular issue, then that in his opinion would be a valid reason for amending the agenda.

Such an item would probably need to be addressed in a limited way, with no action taken, Lindsey said. It could then be placed on the next meeting's agenda if it needed further review.

Lindsey emphasized the new regulations about providing an affidavit whenever a meeting is closed for any reason. Under the new law, the mayor or chairman of a particular body must sign an affidavit stating the reason for closing the meeting.

Lindsey's suggestion is for all members to sign beneath the chairman, showing that all are in agreement on closing the meeting. He added that false swearing is a felony, and to further keep the board out of any potential trouble, no meeting should be closed except upon specific advice of legal counsel.

Another area that could be problem for board members is when they happen to be gathering in a significant number at the same social event. Lindsey said that special care should be taken in such cases not to discuss city business.

As far as two members of a body meeting with city staff of just talking about a certain issue at breakfast, that would probably be acceptable, Lindsey said, since they are not a quorum and there's no real meeting. But he suggested that two members forming a specific committee should do their business in an open meeting.

Open records requests were also covered, although Lindsey mentioned that they would mostly be handled by staff on a day-to-day basis, so those changes would not affect the various governmental bodies as much as the meeting guidelines.com