As it turns out, voting to fire a public employee in closed session without notifying the public violates the state’s Open Meeting laws. Rescinding that vote without notifying the public also appears to be a violation. 

That’s a lesson being learned by the BART Board of Directors, who voted in secret to fire their general manager. After learning their action violated the law, they voted to rescind their action, which also was a violation of the law.

The future of the employee is now uncertain, as is her employment status. But at a recent meeting, a retired transit administrator admonished the council for firing someone who was able to balance budgets during even the worst fincial conditions.

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

BART directors officially fessed up Thursday to their illegal vote two weeks earlier to fire General Manager Dorothy Dugger – but her fate as head of the transit district remains unclear.

The vote to terminate the general manager, taken in a closed session, was quickly rescinded when it became clear it violated state open meeting laws, but neither action was ever reported to the public, as mandated.

Thursday the board voted unanimously to disclose the actions, including the names of the five directors who voted to dismiss Dugger: James Fang, Bob Franklin, John McPartland, Robert Raburn and Tom Radulovich. Directors Tom Blalock, Joel Keller, Gail Murray and Lynette Sweet opposed the firing.

Read the full article here.