PAONIA TRUTH NUGGETS

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AN INITIATED ORDINANCE REQUIRING RECORDING AND RELEASE OF EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

ORDINANCE NO. 2025-__ RECITALS WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees conducts public business in executive sessions; and WHEREAS, Colorado Open Meetings Law requires specific reasons for closed sessions; and WHEREAS, the Board held an illegal executive session about citizen initiatives on June 10, 2025; and WHEREAS, secret meetings undermine public trust and democratic governance; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN OF PAONIA: SECTION 1. RECORDING REQUIREMENT All executive sessions shall be: a) Recorded with both audio and video b) Stored with tamper-proof timestamps c) Preserved for minimum seven (7) years d) Backed up in multiple secure locations SECTION 2. AUTOMATIC RELEASE Executive session recordings shall be: a) Automatically released to the public after ninety (90) days b) Posted on the Town website in accessible format c) Available for CORA requests immediately after 90-day period d) Exempt from release only by court order SECTION 3. COURT-ORDERED EXTENSIONS Extensions beyond 90 days require: a) Specific court order based on active litigation b) Demonstration of actual harm from release c) Narrowest possible scope of withheld material d) Re-review every 90 days SECTION 4. PUBLIC NOTICE The Town shall: a) Post detailed agenda before entering executive session b) State specific statutory authority for closure c) Provide summary of topics discussed after session d) List all persons present in executive session SECTION 5. PROHIBITED TOPICS Executive sessions may NOT discuss: a) General policy matters b) Citizen initiatives or referenda c) Budget decisions except specific personnel costs d) Any matter requiring public vote or hearing SECTION 6. ENFORCEMENT a) Citizens may seek mandamus for release b) Violations constitute Official Misconduct c) Illegal sessions void any decisions made d) Attorney fees awarded for successful enforcement SECTION 7. TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS Recording systems must: a) Function automatically without manual activation b) Include redundant backup systems c) Prevent editing or deletion d) Create verifiable chain of custody SECTION 8. EFFECTIVE DATE Thirty days after election certification.
Paonia Truth Nuggets