Medina village trustee highlighted for Open Meetings Law education effort

Photo by Tom Rivers: Jess Marciano, Medina village trustee, speaks during last week’s Village Board meeting.

MEDINA – A Medina village trustee has made the “nice” list of elected officials in the state for her efforts to educate the public about the Open Meetings Law.

The New York Coalition For Open Government, Inc. highlighted Jess Marciano, a member of the Medina Village Board, for her letter to the editor posted on the Orleans Hub on Sept. 20.

Marciano details the Open Meetings Law and what meetings should be public, how the sessions should be posted ahead of time and what documents made available to the public.

She details reasons for going into executive session when the board can discuss matters behind closed doors – litigation, contract negotiations, and employment history of a person, including appointment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation.

The Coalition For Open Government is a non-profit organization “advocating for timely access to information and meaningful citizen participation.”

The group faulted Gov. Kathy Hochul for not delivering on her promise of a “new era of transparency.” The governor for the second year in a row vetoed legislation requiring the posting of emergency contracts online.

Hochul only signed one legislation about Freedom of Information and that new law requires government agencies to notify employees when their records are requested. This bill was opposed by open government groups, the Coalition said.

Some others on the “naughty” list:

• New York City Mayor Eric Adams for releasing his schedule which didn’t disclose his meetings with lobbyists or phone calls with elected officials.
• Jim Perry, the Niagara Falls City Council president, for preventing a member of the community from speaking during the public comment portion of meeting because he didn’t want to hear her concerns about the city’s animal shelter contract.
• City of Amsterdam for blocking public access to City Hall by requiring people to have an appointment in order to enter, and also for restricting the right to record or take pictures in public places.
• Nassau County Police Department for spending four years and at least $100,000 in attorney fees fighting a FOIL request for a phone directory.
• Syracuse School Board for sending a cease-and-desist letter to a news station asking them to stop contacting board members with questions.
• Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson for not allowing public comments at a village meeting due to his being annoyed by people speaking about a lawsuit filed against the Village.
• Christopher Scanlon, Buffalo Common Council President – After many years of people being able to show up at Buffalo Common Council meetings and speak regarding their concerns, Scanlon sent an email to his Council colleagues establishing a new rule that requires people to obtain permission from the Committee Chair prior to the meeting in order to speak.
• Phil Skowfoe, Fulton Supervisor in Schoharie County – Eliminated the right of the public to speak at town board meetings. He now requires the public to fill out a form one week prior to the meeting disclosing what you plan to say and are only allowed a 2-minute max at the end of a meeting.

To see the full report from New York Coalition For Open Government, click here.