Citizen says health district violated open meeting law

Friday, Feb. 27, 1998 | 10:16 a.m.

Armed with a copy of the Nevada Open Meeting Law, environmental activist Bob Hall stopped the Clark County Health District board's regular monthly meeting Thursday.

"They have not paid attention to the open meeting law for some time," Hall said. "I had them cold."

Hall told the board that if the meeting was convened, each member attending could be charged with a misdemeanor.

Board attorney Ian Ross advised the board members against holding the meeting which was rescheduled for March 12.

Hall said he received his meeting notice Wednesday, the day before the meeting. Under the law, notices have to be posted a minimum of three days before the board meeting, Hall said.

Chief Health Officer Otto Ravenholt disagreed with Hall's interpretation of the law, but admitted the health district was busy last week after the threat of anthrax contamination in the valley erupted. The FBI initially arrested two suspects, but the material they possessed was determined to be a harmless animal vaccine.

The health district is responsible for getting public notices posted and mailed on time, Ravenholt said.

Hall said he will continue to challenge local government agencies who violate the open meetings law.

"I decided I wasn't going to play around with them anymore," Hall said. "Had they gone on with the meeting, I would have filed a complaint with the (state) attorney general's office and we would have gone straight to court."