610, is a guideline to keep public bodies' deliberations, votes and records open to the public and the media. The Muleskinner has not been able to obtain minutes from any of the seven meetings the board has held since June 3, 1999. I thought it was just negotiations by the search firm. Harmon said he saw nothing inappropriate in not disclosing the board's vote on the hiring of Davenport. Anne Zemek de Dominguez, Central's general counsel, concurred with Harmon.
Disclosure takes place after the deal.
Mike Heistand, attorney for the Student Press Law Center, Arlington, Va., said any vote to extend a contract would be subject to disclosure within 72 hours, as the Sunshine Law requires. Dominguez said the vote was not disclosed because it would take away the university's bargaining position with other candidates. The university is not required to disclose any land purchase deals until all parcels are purchased. Harmon said one of the benefits of using the search firm is that the board didn't have to disclose any decisions until the end of the hiring process. Patton signed a contract July 29 and started work Aug. 2.