Former DCEDC member files complaint with the state

indiana-open-door-law

 

 

 

A complaint has been filed with the Indiana Public Access Counselor against the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation.

Former Corporation Board member John Richardson alleges that the corporation has violated the Access to Public Records Act and Open Door Law.   Those laws require government boards and agencies to be open to the public with their records and meetings with reasonable notice to the public.

Richardson says the laws state that if an agency gets over 50% of its funding from public tax dollars then they are subject to the open door laws.  In his complaint Richardson claimed the DCEDC has violated open door laws concerning executive sessions, giving notice and by having no regular meetings.  He claims the public records act has been violated due to denial of access and electronic access.

Corporation Director Ron Arnold says it’s always been his understanding, according to their legal counsel, that the DCEDC is a nonprofit agency and therefore not subject to the open door laws. Arnold says if they find out different information then they will certainly abide by the law. He cited a similar case in Perry County where a former board member filed a complaint and the case went to the state supreme court and that economic development corporation was found to be exempt from the public access statutes.  For now he says, all information has been turned over to the local corporation attorney to decipher.   The Public Access Counselor is expected to issue a decision on the complaint  March 20th.