TERRE HAUTE — Residents of Vigo County, and readers of the Tribune-Star, have been treated to a good lesson on open government the past few weeks in wake of formal complaints that the Terre Haute Housing Authority violated state laws governing public meetings.
Those complaints were lodged with the office of Indiana’s public access counselor by a Terre Haute city councilman and others closely involved in ongoing controversies at the housing agency. This week, Public Access Counselor Heather Willis Neal issued an advisory opinion agreeing with the complainants that the Housing board had violated the open meetings law.
The four-page opinion is instructive. Not only does it evaluate the substance of the complaint and the actions of a public agency, it applies them to the law and details the manner in which the law was violated. A copy of the opinion is available at the PAC Web site under the Advisory Opinions link. More conveniently, it is available for viewing and download from our Web site at www.tribstar.com. Just click on the link to this column (or see the accompanying link if you’re reading this online).
While this episode will teach readers some things about public access laws and how they are applied, there is a fact I would like to add that most people may not know, and that the Advisory Opinion won’t tell you.
Neal, who was appointed by Gov. Mitch Daniels to the PAC post last summer, is a native of Terre Haute and a graduate of North Vigo High School. She is the fourth person to hold the position since its creation in 1998 (first by executive order of the late Gov. Frank O’Bannon and later by the Indiana General Assembly).
Her higher education includes degrees from Franklin College and the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis. After law school, she worked in the secretary of state’s office for both Sue Ann Gilroy and Todd Rokita. Prior to her appointment as public access counselor, she was executive director of a non-profit organization.
I had an opportunity to meet and talk with Neal last fall when she was guest speaker at a meeting of the Indiana Associated Press Managing Editors organization in Brown County. She told me that although she has lived away from Terre Haute the past 15 years or so, she still has family here and makes occasional trips home for visits. She now lives in Indy with her husband and daughter.
Being public access counselor and running the state’s PAC office is no walk in the park. The PAC budget is a mere $150,845, nearly the same as when the office was created a decade ago. All but $6,000 of that pays Neal’s salary and that of an administrative assistant. The rest goes for office supplies and travel around the state to deliver programs aimed at educating public officials — and the public — about access laws.
Recent efforts in the Legislature to raise the PAC’s budget failed, but another attempt is expected next year. The workload is definitely increasing (more than 2,000 inquires and complaints were logged last year, with that number increasing almost every year). Adding another $50,000 to the budget would allow another staff attorney to be hired. That would mean better and more timely service.
Despite the challenges, Neal keeps plugging away. But the Legislature needs to get her some help soon.
You won’t hear Neal complain. Her work ethic is solid and commitment to the job strong. And it’s nice to see someone with her skills from Vigo County in such an important state position.
Jones can be reached at (812) 231-4336, or by e-mail at max.jones@tribstar.com.
Max Jones
Related Photos
-
File photo
Related Links
Discussion
Editor's Note: A local connection in office of Public Access Counselor
- Max Jones
-
-
MAX JONES: More changes and challenges, but we’re getting there
As a newspaper lands on your porch each day, or you grab it from a local vendor, the complex manufacturing process that goes into producing it is probably the furthest thing from your mind.
-
MAX JONES: Arranging the pieces so it all makes sense
Putting together a newspaper, with its diverse mix of content, is sort of like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. You just have to keep mixing, matching and playing with the pieces until things begin to look right.
-
MAX JONES: Community newspapers too valuable to go away
These days, rarely a week goes by without someone — a co-worker, a friend, a professional associate, an acquaintance, etc. — asking for my thoughts about the future of the newspaper industry.
-
MAX JONES: Angry emotion yet to rear its head in mayoral race
October has arrived. Five weeks remain before Election Day, and a staple ingredient seems to be missing from Terre Haute’s mayoral campaign season.
-
MAX JONES: Join us as we walk in the shadows of 9/11
The 10th anniversary of 9/11 has sparked renewed interest toward a haunting time in modern history. With all that’s happened the past 10 years related to the terrorist attacks of 2001, it still seems like only yesterday that we all were watching those terrible images of commercial airliners flying into buildings, towers collapsing and grief-stricken people all across America — and the world — mourning the victims.
-
MAX JONES: 9/11 ‘moments’ still vivid 10 years later
With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaching, Americans are recalling in vivid detail where they were when they first learned of the terrorist attacks.
-
MAX JONES: Something special — courtesy of your newspaper
Publishing a daily newspaper is our bread and butter here at the Tribune-Star.
-
MAX JONES: Ernie Pyle never ceases bringing pride to Indiana
Once again, Ernie Pyle has made me proud to be a journalist.
-
MAX JONES: What do you know about that founding Declaration?
Of all the national holidays Americans celebrate, July 4th — Independence Day — sports the most essential link to the country’s shared history and ideals.
-
MAX JONES: Ready, action! Video lets us tell even better stories
Those of you who make the Tribune-Star’s online edition part of your reading routine — and there are approximately 40,000 of you each week who do so — have been treated recently to an enhanced feature on our website.
-
MAX JONES: Vigo County played active role in Civil War history
When the Tribune-Star set out to find a way to commemorate Vigo County’s unique role in Civil War history on the 150th anniversary of its beginning, I was concerned it might be difficult to find much information on the subject locally.
-
MAX JONES: Local seminar to shed light on access
Transparency in public information is an important principle for the proper functioning of government at all levels. Vigilance is key in ensuring that public records and meetings remain open and accessible to citizens of our communities.
-
MAX JONES: Readers benefit from new resource
The Tribune-Star’s primary mission is to report news and tell stories that are relevant to our large community of readers, helping them be better informed and more engaged citizens.
-
MAX JONES: Farewell to Stephanie, for a while
The Tribune-Star and its legions of readers throughout the Wabash Valley were extremely fortunate six years ago to welcome back a native daughter.
-
MAX JONES: Friends ready for next big step at Pyle historic site
The campaign to preserve the legacy of World War II journalist Ernie Pyle in his hometown of Dana passed a milestone last week. Indiana’s Natural Resources Commission voted to end the state’s involvement in the Pyle historic site and turn it over to the Friends of Ernie Pyle organization.
-
Max Jones: Taking the pulse of community progress
Terre Haute and Vigo County have been in a period of vibrant change in recent years.
- MAX JONES: Christmas miracles can still happen You don’t have to wander far to find people who remember vividly when downtown Terre Haute was the place to be during the Christmas
- EDITOR'S NOTE: Appearance of corruption a strong incentive for reform Today, and for the following two days, Tribune-Star readers are being treated to a remarkable series of editorials and essays produced by the Indianapolis Star.
- MAX JONES: Tough times call for lots of encouragement The last college and high school classes of the first decade of the 21st century have begun receiving their diplomas . Expectations are high, even as economic times are hard.
-
MAX JONES: Printed newspaper will be here for years to come
Whenever I speak to groups or individuals around the community about the state of the newspaper industry, I often get confused looks when I say that newspaper readership is growing rapidly and has never been higher.
-
MAX JONES: Daniels off the hook on time-zone issue
There was a time in the not-too-distant past when I figured I’d be mad at Mitch Daniels the rest of my life. As one of many, many Hoosiers angered by the change in Indiana’s way of dealing with its time-zone problem, I blamed Gov. Daniels for not leaving well enough alone.
-
MAX JONES: Voters anxious to get news about candidates
Labor Day historically marks the beginning of the fall season for political campaigning. That has been true most years in which elections are conducted. This year, however, such a designation may be greeted will little more than a chuckle.
-
MAX JONES: Voters will be big winners in fall gubernatorial debates
Twice in September and once in October, Indiana voters will have an opportunity to participate in and witness, in person or via electronic media, debates among the state’s three candidates for governor.
-
Editor's Note: A local connection in office of Public Access Counselor
Residents of Vigo County, and readers of the Tribune-Star, have been treated to a good lesson on open government the past few weeks in wake of formal complaints that the Terre Haute Housing Authority violated state laws governing public meetings.
-
EDITOR'S NOTE Sounding the bell for those who hear different drummer
Are there any bagpipers out there? If so, please take a deep breath and step forward.
- Max Jones: Forum will help you get to know spring candidates With the race for the Democratic presidential nomination in full frenzy, you probably don’t need to be reminded that Indiana’s primary election is just over three weeks away.
-
Max Jones: Evolving with an industry — and with our readers
Newspapers, it is said, are living, breathing organisms that reflect the times in which they exist and the values of the communities they serve. In order to meet the changing needs and wants of their wide and diverse audience of readers, newspapers must evolve right along with them.
-
MAX JONES: Readers speak: Tell us about political factions
Last week, I wrote about the fractured Democratic Party in Vigo County, the players behind the factions, and how the divisions were posing new challenges in covering this upcoming primary season.
-
Max Jones: New twist in covering Vigo County politics
One need not be an astute observer of local politics to know that the Democratic Party infrastructure here is cracked and fragmented. It’s been that way for a long time.
- That’s a wrap -- An editorial page week in review One of the more vivid advertising images left over from the 2006 campaign for Indiana’s 8th District congressional seat in the U.S. House of Representatives is the cheesy direct-mail flyer showing liberal Rep. Nancy Pelosi holding the puppet strings on Democrat challenger Brad Ellsworth.
- More Max Jones Headlines
-
MAX JONES: More changes and challenges, but we’re getting there
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Maine GOP Chairman Says Romney Wins Caucuses
Fans 'Speechless' Over Houston's Death
Androgynous Model Walks Runway As Man and Woman
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Latest Jason Wu Collection Shows Chinese Roots
ShowBiz Minute: Madonna, Beresford-Redman, Pawsc
Raw Video: Whitney Houston's Last Performance
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Stars Show Support at AMFAR Charity Gala
Snow Strands Italian Towns
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Rough Seas Stop Oil Removal
The Muppets Are Oscars Bound!
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
BCBG Kicks Off NY Fashion Week
Lusetich: AT&T Rd. 3 recap
Whitney Houston's body is removed from hotel
Raw Video: Aurora Borealis As Seen From Space
Whitney's Final Days - EXCLUSIVE
Romney Tops Santorum in CPAC Straw Poll
First glimpse of Blue Ivy Carter
Angry Dad Shoots Teens Laptop
Peek inside Barbie's closet
Absolute Lin-sanity
Madonna's Daughter Shaves Head
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Test on Comforter in Powell Unit Shows Blood
Hero Driver Saves Kids From Burning Bus
Funeral to be held for Powell boys
Sandusky on having to stay inside and people turning on him
Woolly Mammoth Caught on Camera?
Did JLo 'Assault' Marc Anthony on Camera?
Christie Brinkley's Runway Slip
Toddler forced to run half-naked in snow
