Opinion ID: 1399951
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Meeting under the FOIA

Text: The issue in the present case is whether the one-on-one meetings constitute an informal meeting of the Board subject to the FOIA. In Arkansas Gazette, supra, a committee made up of University of Arkansas board members met with the University President and others to discuss allowing possession of alcohol in campus housing. The meeting was closed to the public, and the press was asked to leave. The committee then met and later conveyed information to the board that was used by the board to make a decision. This court in Pickens stated: Of course, pertinent to our discussion in the instant litigation is the question, Did the decision reached by the committee affect proposed rules for the student body? To ask the question is but to answer it, for the committee made its recommendations to the board on the basis of its own investigation, and the board adopted that recommendation with but little discussion. When a committee of a board meets for the transaction of business  this is a public meeting, and subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. Pickens, 258 Ark. at 76-77, 522 S.W.2d 350. Harris argues that by polling the entire Board, an informal meeting of the Board was held. On that basis, Harris argues there is no need to consider whether the FOIA applies to a meeting of two board members. Harris argues that in the end what is involved is a knowing deception of the public to accomplish the purchase. He also argues that even though the public was able to attend the April 23, 2003, meeting, the minds of the Board members were already made up, and refusing to approve the purchase would have been difficult. Under the particular facts of the matter before us, we conclude that an informal meeting subject to the FOIA was held by way of the one-on-one meetings. The purpose of the one-on-one meetings was to obtain a decision of the Board as a whole on the purchase of the Fort Biscuit property. Counsel for the City at oral argument acknowledged that the issue in this case did not involve a meeting of two as discussed in El Dorado, supra , but rather involved conversations that took place with all seven Board members. The facts of this case are more analogous to Rehab Hospital, supra , where this court found that polling the Executive Committee to determine the Committee's decision was a meeting that was subject to the FOIA. The use of Harding as an intermediary between the Board members did not alter the actual character of the result of Harding's work, which was a decision of the Board. The FOIA may not be circumvented by delegation of duties to others. See, e.g., City of Fayetteville v. Edmark, 304 Ark. 179, 801 S.W.2d 275 (1990). We note that the Board in this case had a laudable purpose in acquiring the Fort Biscuit property by confidential bid. The property was acquired for improving traffic conditions in the downtown area, and was acquired at a price that was favorable to the taxpayers. However, the FOIA as presently drafted will not permit approval of a confidential bid by the method used by the Board in this case. Whatever process might be needed to obtain public entity approval of the submission of confidential bids, and approval of the amounts of such bids, has not been exempted under the FOIA as currently drafted. Whether the process required to approve and submit confidential bids should be exempted from the FOIA is a public policy decision that must be made by the General Assembly and not by this court. Rehab Hospital, supra , was decided in 1985, and El Dorado, supra , was decided in 1976. The legislature could have acted in the intervening years to alter the FOIA, but has not done so to date. We must await legislative action before we can hold differently than in the present case. See, e.g., Burkett v. PPG Indus., Inc., 294 Ark. 50, 740 S.W.2d 621 (1987). We also note that Harris asks this court to reverse the denial of his motion for summary judgment. The denial of a motion for summary judgment is not appealable. Murphy Oil USA, Inc. v. Unigard Sec., 347 Ark. 167, 61 S.W.3d 807 (2001). Finally, we note that Harris sought an injunction and attorney's fees in his complaint and sought similar relief in his motion for summary judgment. However, again, Harris's motion for summary judgment was denied, and the City's motion for summary judgment was granted. Therefore, the issues of the injunction and fees were neither considered nor ruled on by the circuit court. With certain exceptions not relevant to this discussion, this court has appellate jurisdiction only, which means that it has jurisdiction to review an order or decree of a circuit court. Lewellen v. Sup.Ct. Comm. on Prof'l Conduct, 353 Ark. 641, 110 S.W.3d 263 (2003). There is no order or decree to review on the issues of an injunction or attorney's fees. This case is reversed and remanded for action consistent with this opinion. THORNTON, J., not participating.