Bd. of Dirs. of the City of Hot Springs v. Pritchett (Majority)
Annotate this CaseThe City Manager of the City of Hot Springs unilaterally allowed regular meetings of the Board of Directors for the City, including a public-comment period following the meetings, to be telecast. Later, at a workshop retreat, the Board decided to cease the telecast of the public-comment period. Appellees filed a petition for relief under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The Board responded that lawful notice of the workshop had been given and that no action or vote was required for the Board to cease televising the public-comment period. The circuit court concluded that the Board was required to vote in public at a regular meeting in order to cease televising the public-comment period and that the Board’s action was taken in violation of FOIA. The circuit court also awarded attorney’s fees to Appellees. Before this appeal was filed, the Board voted at a regular public meeting to cease televising the public-comment period. The Supreme Court (1) dismissed the Board’s challenge to the circuit court’s finding that it violated FOIA as moot; and (2) affirmed the order awarding attorney’s fees and costs, as the Board did not preserve for appeal its objection to the fees.
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