BEREA — City council met Tuesday and heard a legal opinion from City Attorney J.T. Gilbert that the finance committee violated the Kentucky Open Meetings law when it met in executive session with the Lexington accounting firm that conducted the city’s annual financial audit.
Gilbert’s legal opinion was requested by council member Ronnie Terrill, one of three Berea City Council members excluded from a meeting of the finance committee with the city’s audit firm. Terrill, Troy Van Winkle and Jerry Little are not on the finance committee and were asked to leave the meeting.
Gilbert said all council committee meetings are subject to the open meetings law and cannot adjourn to a closed session unless they meet certain specific exceptions.
“I do not believe that an exception is applicable in this case,” Gilbert said.
“So you are saying that this meeting was in violation of the Kentucky Open Meetings Act?” Van Winkle asked.
Gilbert answered, “Yes.”
Glenn Jennings, chair of the finance committee, said, “Let the record read that I have been appropriately admonished.”
After further discussion, consensus was reached that the finance committee chair can meet privately with the auditors before or after an audit to ask if the controls are weak or if there are problems or concerns. Otherwise, the committee cannot go into executive session unless specific exceptions occur such as sensitive personnel issues or discussions of real estate that would possibly affect values if made public prematurely.
After most of the council business was conducted, Mayor Steve Connelly called for an executive session of the council members to discuss what he described as “pending or anticipated litigation.” After 20 minutes in a closed session, normal business resumed and Connelly said no action was taken.
In other business, Connelly opened eight sealed bids for construction of a bridge for the Indian Fort trail project. The bids, ranging from $228,000 to $362,000, were referred to the finance department for evaluation and report.
Connelly asked Tim Taylor, street superintendent for the City of Berea, to stand and be recognized for completing certification as a Road Master through the University of Kentucky College of Engineering, the Kentucky Transportation Center and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Taylor completed 13 training sessions over a two-year period to gain certification that signifies high achievement in the public works field.
Two Madison Southern students came before the council to request support for a teen dance club and a teen center where young people could have a chaperoned place to gather and have fun without drugs or alcohol. Connelly suggested the two students develop a plan of action by talking with other students, teachers and area churches. He asked that they return with a plan after the first of the year for council consideration.
Maggy Kriebel, Berea Parks and Recreation Director, and a group of participants in a Special Olympics basketball program, appeared before council to thank the City of Berea Police Department and the Fire Department for sponsoring a chili supper fundraiser on Nov. 6 for Madison County Special Olympics that raised $2,000 for new uniforms and sports equipment. Plaques of appreciation were presented to the fire chief and the police chief by Cody LaShelle and Ben Taylor.
City Administrator Randy Stone said cable access channel 12 would be carrying information about the city’s leaf pick-up plan that starts Nov. 23. Stone said residential leaf removal would take place on the same schedule as trash pick up so residents should have their leaves ready for pickup on trash pickup day.
Local News
Attorney says council violated sunshine law
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‘She wasn’t just a teacher’ : Lambert retires after 43 years at Berea
Scroll to the bottom of the story to read "Love for Lambert: Berea graduates share memories of their teacher," as well as a list of other Berea retirees this year.
Writer’s Note: Brenda Lambert is the reason I write articles today (Class of 2000).
Years ago, a little blonde-haired girl from Rockcastle County gathered her friends to “play school” in a 10-by-10 foot playhouse her father built.
Even at 12 years old, Brenda Lambert knew she wanted to be a teacher one day.
“I always felt like an old person trapped in a young person's body,” said Lambert, who is retiring after 43 years of service to Berea Community School. -
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Jerry Wayne Edington, 34, of Berea Road, was charged Jan. 19 with second-degree assault after an altercation at the Blue Moon bar on East Irvine Street, according to a Richmond police report. -
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Dump of the Day
An old mattress, a car seat and other debris sit Friday afternoon on North Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets where it was first spotted Thursday. The “Dump of the Day” is a recurring series the Richmond Register publishes to highlight illegal trash piles and push local governments to cite perpetrators and get illegal dumps cleaned up. See Sunday’s Richmond Register to read a copy of the city’s ordinance related to trash pickup.
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Undefeated academic team brings pride to Madison Middle School
Madison Middle School 6th and 7th grade academic teams have been undefeated for the last two years.
The 8th grade team also has done well, having some students qualify to compete at the state level. -
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Man is indicted on additional sex charge involving teen in 1998
A man already accused of sex abuse in November 2011 has been indicted on a charge of first-degree rape involving a child in 1998.
Charles W. Peyton, 63, of East Irvine Street, was indicted Wednesday by a Madison grand jury. He used “forcible compulsion” to have sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl between March 1 and May 1 in 1998, according to the indictment. -
Woman fends off burglar with knife
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Officers responded to a call in the 1000 block of Scaffold Cane Road about a man trying to break into a home, according to a release from BPD Public Information Officer Jake Reed. - More Local News Headlines
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