Rule 6-401-1.8 - OPEN MEETINGSAll official meetings of the District shall be open to the public at all times unless declared an executive session as provided in Section 25-41-7.
(a)Official Meetings. The regular meetings and additional regular meetings as described in Article V, Sections 1 and 2 respectively, of the District bylaws found in RULE 1.3 herein, are the official meetings of the District.(b)Location and Time of Official Meetings. Official meetings shall be held at the District administrative offices located at 2304 Riverside Drive, Jackson, Mississippi at the times designated in the bylaws, unless such times and locations are redesignated by the President, or in his absence, the Vice President, in accordance with the terms of Article V, Section 1 of the District bylaws.(c)Minutes. Minutes of all official District meetings, whether in open or executive session shall be kept by the duly elected Secretary, and in his absence the Assistant Secretary. Such minutes shall contain, at a minimum, the following information: the District Board Members present and absent, the date, time and place of the meeting, an accurate recording of any final actions taken at such meeting, a record by individual Member of the Board of Directors, of any votes taken, and any other information that the District desires to be reflected in the minutes. The Secretary shall record the minutes within a reasonable time, not to exceed thirty (30) days after recess or adjournment of a meeting. Those minutes or other District records not approved by the Board shall be marked "Unapproved." Such minutes shall be open to public inspection, copy or reproduction, as follows:
(1) All requests to examine, review or to obtain copies of public records of the Pearl River Basin Development District shall be made in writing to the Executive Vice President of the District.(2) Public records of the District will be made available at District offices during normal business hours within five (5) working days of the receipt of the written request, unless written notice from the Executive Vice President is provided within (5) working days to the person or persons making the request, stating the reason or reasons why such request should not be granted.(3) Members of the District staff may be allowed to monitor any review or examination of public records of the District. The District shall be reimbursed at its normal rate in the event a staff member spends more than one (1) working day monitoring or assisting in the review of any public records of the District.(4) In the event a person desires copies of any public records of the District, copies may be obtained at the rate of $.30 per page which copies shall be made at the District offices by a member of the District staff. If copies are available and in stock, such copies may be obtained at the rate of $.10 per page. If copies must be made by District staff, the staff is granted up to five (5) working days to obtain and deliver such copies to the person or persons making the request. All postage shall be paid by the person or persons making the request.(d)Notice. The times, procedures and related notice requirements for holding official District meetings are contained in Article V of the District bylaws, incorporated in § 1.51 -11 3(1) of these regulations.(e)Conduct of Persons Attending Meetings. (1) Upon written request, members of the public at large attending official meetings of the District Board of Directors shall be accommodated on a first-come, first-serve basis; provided, however, that the maximum number of individuals allowed to observe such proceedings shall not reach a number which, in the judgment of the President of the Board, may at any time be deemed to constitute a safety hazard. (See RULES 1.6, 1.7 for procedures regarding requests to be placed on agenda and to appear before the District.)(2) Any person rightfully in attendance at an official meeting of the District is authorized to take such notes as he may desire concerning the proceedings, in any form selected by him, including the use of any tape recorder, camera or like device so long as this does not interfere with the orderly conduct of the proceedings.(3) The President of the Board of Directors is hereby empowered to take such actions as may be reasonably necessary to ensure that all official meetings of the District are held in an environment which is safe and suitable for the orderly conduct of such proceedings, including the excusal or removal of any person whose actions are disruptive to the proceedings, or the recess, adjournment or postponement of any meeting until such time as order is restored.Miss. Code Ann. § 51-11-11.