PORT TOWNSEND — About 70 elected and appointed public officials and government watchdogs attended a workshop Wednesday about state laws governing open public meetings and public records.
Chip Holcomb, senior counsel for the state Attorney General’s Office, led the 90-minute session sponsored by the city, Port of Port Townsend, Jefferson County, and the Port Townsend Leader weekly newspaper.
Holcomb and Fred Olson, Attorney General’s Office director of administration, were peppered with questions after reviewing the Open Public Meetings Act and the Open Public Records Act.
The Port Townsend City Council recently stumbled when its members tried to elect a mayor and deputy mayor by secret ballot.
The election was voided after City Attorney John Watts pointed out that while ballots can be cast secretly, state law says the vote of each member must be revealed when the votes are counted.
The rest of this story appears in today’s Peninsula Daily News Jefferson County edition. Click on “Subscribe” to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.