 Sunshine Law Workshop
State AG Office
Conducts Sunshine Law Workshop
Constitution-Tribune,
Thursday, Sept 17, 2009
CAPTION: Around 25 people mostly from the public sector attended a Sunshine Law workshop directed by Tom Durkin of the Missouri Attorney General’s Office in the courtroom of the Livingston County Courthouse Tuesday evening. Durkin is making stops throughout the state encouraging elected officials and members of board and commissions to attend.
C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley
Twenty-five people from the public and private sectors of the county attended a Sunshine Law workshop in the courtroom of the Livingston County Courthouse Tuesday evening.
Representatives from elected county offices, city offices, township boards and other taxing entities attended.
Tom Durkin, appointed less than a year ago to the newly-created position of public education director for the Missouri attorney general’s office, led the workshop.
Durkin emphasized the importance of making government accessible. The Sunshine Law — first enacted in Missouri in 1973 — is “the least common denominator” of good government,” Durkin said, encouraging public entities to go beyond the bare minimum of what is outlined in the Sunshine Law.
“If we are willing to fight for freedom, and if we are willing to die for freedom, we should be willing to be inconvenienced for freedom,” he said.
The workshop was part of an ongoing effort by Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster to provide government officials with the support they need to be well informed in conducting their business in a way that brings transparency and fairness to all aspects of government. Durkin has given workshops in about half of the state’s counties.
Durkin addressed topics such as who does the Sunshine Law apply to, what is a public meeting, public record procedures and limitations for closing meetings and records, and fees for copying public
records.
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