Opinion ID: 2525241
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Propriety of County Commissioners' March 4, 1997, Executive Session

Text: [¶ 29] Mr. Mayland also objects the County Commissioners went into executive session on March 4, 1997, with the county attorney to discuss the private road application and, as reflected in the minutes, instructed the county attorney to prepare findings of fact and conclusions of law prior to the County Commissioners making a final decision. He asserts such action violates the Public Meetings Act, Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 16-4-401 to -407 (LexisNexis 2001), and denied him due process by preventing him from being present during the County Commissioners' deliberations. [¶ 30] Pursuant to § 16-4-403(a): (a) All meetings of the governing body of an agency are public meetings, open to the public at all times, except as otherwise provided. No action of a governing body of an agency shall be taken except during a public meeting following notice of the meeting in accordance with this act. Action taken at a meeting not in conformity with this act is null and void and not merely voidable. It goes without saying the meeting of the County Commissioners was that of a governing body. Also, the stated purpose of the executive session was the discussion of the private road application and is not covered by any of the § 16-4-405 exceptions. Thus, we are confronted with the question: What action, if any, taken at that meeting is void as provided in § 16-4-403(a)? Ward v. Board of Trustees of Goshen County School District No. 1, 865 P.2d 618, 621 (Wyo.1993). We have held that agencies may hold informal meetings for informational purposes so long as no action is taken at them. 865 P.2d at 621-22 (citing Emery v. City of Rawlins, 596 P.2d 675, 679 (Wyo.1979)). [¶ 31] The record contains no evidence a vote was taken during the March 4, 1997, executive session or any specific decision resulted. The only outcome of the meeting appears to be that the county attorney was instructed to prepare findings of fact and conclusions of law prior to the County Commissioners making an order. So, although it was inappropriate for an executive session to be called regarding the private road application, the County Commissioners took no action that can be considered void. Also, it is worth noting the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law were later signed by all the commissioners at a June 17, 1997, public meeting. They were also officially adopted at a public meeting on February 1, 2000, as reflected in the Order Adopting Report of Appraisers and Establishing Private Road which the January 18, 2000, hearing transcript indicates was based on the proposed order prepared by Mr. Mayland's counsel. We conclude the Public Meetings Act requirements were met when the County Commissioners took action.