05/03/2006: "Council "Holds" short Illegal Meeting?"

Councilman Myhr and Lichter admitted at the Tuesday ADU meeting that they had, for a short time, been together, and in conversation with, members of the public outside of a formal advertised meeting.

The matter came up un-expectedly after a break in the hearing on ADU's, when Chairman Lichter announced to the audience that he and Myhr had been observed last Tuesday after the ADU meeting, in conversation with members of the public who had attended the public hearing on ADUs.

Lichter said correspondence had been received from Wanda Evans that she had "witnessed a meeting outside on the deck of the ferry between Councilman Alan Lichter, Councilman Bob Myhr, Vice President of the Friends of the San Juan, Lynn Bahrych, Secretary of the Friends of the San Juans, Roger Collier, and a man that I don't know,,,"

For how long the meeting lasted is in dispute, and depends on who you speak to. Lichter and Myhr both have said it was only for a few minutes, but according to Wanda Evans "This meeting last about 10 minutes." And that is not the only difference in descriptions of what happen. Lichter said that Myhr only stayed with the group for a short time, and then left. Myhr told the Guardian that he had walked over to the group, talked and then realized he should not be meeting with them, and excused himself. But Evans stated "After they ended the meeting, they all came inside" (from the ferry deck).

While Lichter has described the meeting with members of the Friends as simply "going over the events of the day", and that nothing of substance was discussed and no action was taken while he and Myhr were together, Myhr said he regretted having joined the group, that it was a mistake that he made, and that once he realized it he had gone back into the ferry.

Evans also stated that the meeting, and the time it lasted, was observed by others on the ferry. The Island Guardian has confirmed there were other witnesses who collaborate the account of the incident by Evans.

If he decides to do so, or is asked by the Council to do so, it will be up to County Prosecutor Randy Gaylord to render an official County opinion on the matter. Gaylord would have to decide if the meeting was a violation of the Open Meetings Act, and/or have there been violations of the guidelines of the Appearance of Fairness concept: that even the appearance of doing something questionable is to be avoided. But what Gaylord has been requested to do by Evans is "that the information discussed at this impromptu public meeting be made available to the public and that it become part of the public record."