The Indiana Publisher

Page 4 September 2019 Time to file, publish, copy to HSPA your USPS Statements of Ownership. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3. 1. The deadline for filing your Periodicals Class Statement of Ownership, Form 3526, with the Post Office is Oct. 1. You may obtain the necessary form from your local post office or from the United States Postal Service's Web site (www.usps.com). 2. The deadline for publishing your notice in your newspaper depends on your frequency of publication: A. For dailies and newspapers published two or more times a week, the deadline is Oct. 10. B. For weeklies, the deadline is Oct. 31. Time to file, publish your Statement of Ownership Ben Middlekamp Daily Reporter (Greenfield) GREENFIELD — The Hancock County Council violated the state Open Door Law in July when it illegally convened a meeting of the council during a committee meeting, the state's public access counselor has ruled. During a meeting of the Hancock County Budget, Efficiency and Revenue Com- mittee on July 1, the Hancock County Council was called into session and unanimously passed an increase to the county's income tax rate. The council re-voted on the measure at a meeting nine days later. The Daily Reporter submitted a formal complaint to the Office of the Public Access Counselor, alleging the county violated the Open Door Law by failing to post adequate notice of the council meeting. Governing boards have to give at least 48 hours' notice to the public about an open meeting. Luke Britt, the public access counselor, issued an advisory opinion agreeing with the Daily Reporter's assertion. The Hancock County Council disputed the Daily Reporter's claim of an Open Door Law violation in a response submitted to the public access counselor by county attor- ney Scott Benkie. The county's budget commit- tee, which for years had met in the basement of the Hancock County Jail, is made up of the county council and county commissioners, but it can only make recommendations to the full council, according to a 2012 Hancock County resolution. The county posts separate annual notices of the county council's regularly scheduled meetings and monthly budget committee meetings. Bill Bolander, county council president, previously told the Daily Reporter that he called the council into session during the committee meeting — which he said is also a meeting of the full council — to "save a little time" during the council's all-day budget meeting the next week. For months, county officials had discussed raising the tax rate by 0.2 percentage points to fund a new county jail that could cost up to $43 million. Benkie wrote in the council's response to the complaint that the county gave adequate notice to the public about the commit - tee meeting, adding that the county advertises the panel's meetings, emphasizing "regu- larly scheduled." "I do not believe the Hancock County Council has committed a violation of the Open Door Law," Benkie wrote. Britt, however, wrote in the advisory opinion that budget committee meetings are not county council meetings. That's an important distinction, he said. "The council's argument to the contrary is troubling," Britt wrote. "Moreover, having a full council be on an entire separate committee is a recipe for confusion and defeats the purpose of committees." The advisory opinion later Public Access Counselor: Hancock County Council violated Open Door Law, illegally convened meeting "A council cannot simply gavel in to a committee meeting and slip an ordinance through without notice." Luke Britt Indiana Public Access Counselor The Hancock County Council violated the state Open Door Law in July when it illegally convened a meeting of the council during a committee meeting, the state's public access counselor has ruled. Daily Reporter file photo See Violation, page 9 3. While you have these forms at hand, please fax or email a copy to HSPA for use in verifying your circulation for HSPA membership eligibility, contest eligibility and HSPA directory information. The fax number is (317) 624-4428 and email can be sent to sgoldsby@hspa.com. HSPA recommends you take into consideration the ability to include digital subscriptions as part of your circulation. Note: The publication requirement applies to all paid-circulation newspapers, regardless of whether you use independent carrier or postal delivery. This is a requirement to maintain your Periodicals mail permit from the USPS. Maintaining your periodicals permit is necessary to continue your eligibility to carry public notice advertising under Indiana Law.

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