PORT TOWNSEND – Mats Mats open government activist Mike Belenski, argued in court Friday that Jefferson County commissioners repeatedly violated the state’s Open Public Meetings Act by having Tuesday meetings that were not properly noticed.
Jefferson County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney David Alvarez shot back that not only do the commissioners no longer meet on Tuesdays, but also the meetings were legal because the Public Meetings Act does not require agendas for meetings and the Tuesday meetings were properly noticed.
Visiting Clallam County Superior Court Judge George Wood, sitting in Jefferson County Superior Court, concluded the hearing with the statement that his decision would come at a later date.
He also said, “I’m a little concerned about agendas that go out and don’t tell the public what will be discussed.”
Belenski, representing himself, and Alvarez argued before the judge while being watched by an audience of about 30, who were mainly Belenski supporters.
Belenski’s lawsuit asks that all decisions at a Tuesday meeting in question be declared null and void.
That includes a settlement agreement between Jefferson County and Washington Environmental Council regarding the county’s critical areas ordinance.
The law was signed last year by the previous board of commissioners.
Each side had 20 minutes to give verbal arguments.
