GIDA Releases Sealed Exec Session Minutes
Minutes of four separate Executive Sessions of the Grove Industrial Development Authority (GIDA) were unsealed Thursday at the request of the Delaware County District Attorney and made available to the public, following another Executive Session Wednesday afternoon.
First, GIDA voted to retain an attorney, Ron Cates of Owasso, on an hourly basis before the Executive Session was held, to consider unsealing the minutes of the four meetings held in 2004-05. GIDA then went into Executive Session, returning just after 5 p.m. and voted unanimously to unseal the minutes of the four meetings.
Earlier, Bob Hinkle had objected to retaining an attorney. "I see no reason to pay an attorney when we have done nothing wrong, it is almost like an admission of guilt."
Member Dave Helms noted that GMSA had earlier voted to retain an attorney and "now we're being investigated for possible misdemeanors with fines up to $6000 and six months in jail."
Then came a verbal exchange between Tim Langley, General Manager of the Grove Sun Daily, and Hinkle, with Langley accusing Hinkle of leaking information. Hinkle denied the allegation.
Here are the unsealed minutes of four GIDA meetings requested by the District Attorney, obtained by The Grove Observer on Thursday:
Feb. 17, 2004:
"2:40 p.m. Doyle Seawright absent; all other board members in attendance. Bill Galletly, Ivonne Buzzard, Dorothy Parker, and James Dill, Vice President of Vector Securities Corporation were also present. James Dill presented an offer to purchase the Grove Civic Center. Discussion followed. No action taken.
3:00 p.m. Board members and others present returned to regular meeting of the Grove Industrial Development Authority."
Minutes signed by Dorothy Parker, City Attorney.
March 1, 2004:
"3:31 p.m. All board members in attendance. Bill Galletly, Ivonne Buzzard, Dorothy Parker were also present. Trustees discussed offer to 'phase in' purchase of Civic Center submitted by Vector Corporation, i.e., to sell the corner lots and retain the civic center building for three years before transferring civic center to Vector. No action taken. 3:57 p.m. Board members and others present returned to special meeting of the Grove Industrial Development Authority."
Minutes signed by Dorothy Parker, City Attorney.
July 6, 2005: "Minutes of Executive Session held by GIDA on July 8th, 2002"
(Editors Note: This was really 2005, and handwritten on the sheet was July 11, but the sealed envelope was dated July 6)
"The Board gathered in the conference room after voting in open session to go into executive session. Present were the 5 board members, Jim Dill of Vector Securities and C.M. Bill Galletly. As soon as the door was shut, Bob Henkle stated that he had a problem with the meeting. He felt the meeting might be illegal because state statue (sic) says that only the staff and board members may attend. He then read what he said was a copy of the statues (sic). Board members immediately began talking about whether or not they could continue with the meeting and asked Bob to read the statue (sic) again. "The manager was asked his opinion and he responded that further research would be needed on his part before he could respond. The conversations continued along this theme for a few minutes longer. Mr. Helms stated that he was leaving the meeting and left. Mr. Seawright indicated that as far as he was concerned, it was time to leave and stood up. The others were still talking to Bob about the statue (sic) but began standing. One of the members said that we were not going any further until we were certain that the meeting was proper. At that time the remaining members started leaving the room and returned to the council chambers.
"Mr. Dill asked me, as we were walking down the hall, what his next move should be and I suggested to him that he submit his proposal in writing and I would get it out to the board members." Name Bill Galletly signed at bottom.
July 15, 2005:
"Minutes for the Executive Session for GIDA for June 15" (Editors Note: no year noted, and June 15th was written over in handwriting as July 15.)
"Presentation of outline of offer, including sketch on board.
General Discussion on pros and cons of proposal
Larry Koch gave some options he felt might work. Can we open back of building? Can we buy 5 acres to the north? Can we buy land behind building?
Perhaps buy 5 acres and lot in back.
Maybe we should go back to our original position--wait 1 year
The costs for additional land and improvements are to (sic) high and won't leave us enough to start a new facility if we decide to go that route."
(these minutes were unsigned).
The following additional information should be noted regarding Executive Sessions held on March 24 and April 29 by the Grove Industrial Development Authority, from open session minutes: (these minutes were obtained from an outside source, not the City of Grove, and are stamped "unapproved")
On March 24, 2005: "At 4:02 p.m. Helms made the motion for the Board to recess into Executive Session for discussion regarding acquisition or disposal of real property as authorized by 25 O.S. 307 B.3. Seconded by Helms. (probably an error) Aye: Seawright, Koch, Helms and Henkle. Nay: None.
Motion carried.
"At 5:15 p.m. Koch made the motion for the Board to come out of Executive Session with no action taken. Seconded by Seawright. Aye: Seawright, Koch, Helms and Henkle. Nay: None."
At the open meeting, after coming out of executive session, Helms made the motion to appoint the following negotiating team of Larry Koch, Bob Henkle, and Bill Galletly, to negotiate the current purchase contract from Vector Securities (Properties) to alternatively be submitted to the people for a vote. Motion was carried unanimously.
On April 29, 2005: "At 9:03 a.m. Koch made the motion for the Board to recess into Executive Session for discussion regarding acquisition or disposal of real property as authorized by 25 O.S. 307 B.3. Seconded by Helms. Aye: Seawright, Koch, Nuckolls, Helms and Henkle. Nay: None. Motion carried.
"At 9:43 a.m. Seawright made the motion for the Board to come out of Executive Session with no action taken. Seconded by Koch. Aye: Seawright, Koch, Nuckolls, Helms and Henkle. Nay: None."
At the open meeting, according to the minutes, Koch made the motion to authorize the City Manager to contact Vectors Securities Corporation regarding the sale of the Civic Center offer, with the offer contingent on a successful vote of the people. Motion carried unanimously.
A city official stated Thursday that there were no minutes of the Executive Sessions available, "either no session was held or the minutes were not taken." But as one can see from the above, Executive Sessions were held in both cases.
It should be noted, again, that at both open meetings, according to the minutes any offers to sell the current Civic Center were contingent on a successful vote of the people of Grove.
First, GIDA voted to retain an attorney, Ron Cates of Owasso, on an hourly basis before the Executive Session was held, to consider unsealing the minutes of the four meetings held in 2004-05. GIDA then went into Executive Session, returning just after 5 p.m. and voted unanimously to unseal the minutes of the four meetings.
Earlier, Bob Hinkle had objected to retaining an attorney. "I see no reason to pay an attorney when we have done nothing wrong, it is almost like an admission of guilt."
Member Dave Helms noted that GMSA had earlier voted to retain an attorney and "now we're being investigated for possible misdemeanors with fines up to $6000 and six months in jail."
Then came a verbal exchange between Tim Langley, General Manager of the Grove Sun Daily, and Hinkle, with Langley accusing Hinkle of leaking information. Hinkle denied the allegation.
Here are the unsealed minutes of four GIDA meetings requested by the District Attorney, obtained by The Grove Observer on Thursday:
Feb. 17, 2004:
"2:40 p.m. Doyle Seawright absent; all other board members in attendance. Bill Galletly, Ivonne Buzzard, Dorothy Parker, and James Dill, Vice President of Vector Securities Corporation were also present. James Dill presented an offer to purchase the Grove Civic Center. Discussion followed. No action taken.
3:00 p.m. Board members and others present returned to regular meeting of the Grove Industrial Development Authority."
Minutes signed by Dorothy Parker, City Attorney.
March 1, 2004:
"3:31 p.m. All board members in attendance. Bill Galletly, Ivonne Buzzard, Dorothy Parker were also present. Trustees discussed offer to 'phase in' purchase of Civic Center submitted by Vector Corporation, i.e., to sell the corner lots and retain the civic center building for three years before transferring civic center to Vector. No action taken. 3:57 p.m. Board members and others present returned to special meeting of the Grove Industrial Development Authority."
Minutes signed by Dorothy Parker, City Attorney.
July 6, 2005: "Minutes of Executive Session held by GIDA on July 8th, 2002"
(Editors Note: This was really 2005, and handwritten on the sheet was July 11, but the sealed envelope was dated July 6)
"The Board gathered in the conference room after voting in open session to go into executive session. Present were the 5 board members, Jim Dill of Vector Securities and C.M. Bill Galletly. As soon as the door was shut, Bob Henkle stated that he had a problem with the meeting. He felt the meeting might be illegal because state statue (sic) says that only the staff and board members may attend. He then read what he said was a copy of the statues (sic). Board members immediately began talking about whether or not they could continue with the meeting and asked Bob to read the statue (sic) again. "The manager was asked his opinion and he responded that further research would be needed on his part before he could respond. The conversations continued along this theme for a few minutes longer. Mr. Helms stated that he was leaving the meeting and left. Mr. Seawright indicated that as far as he was concerned, it was time to leave and stood up. The others were still talking to Bob about the statue (sic) but began standing. One of the members said that we were not going any further until we were certain that the meeting was proper. At that time the remaining members started leaving the room and returned to the council chambers.
"Mr. Dill asked me, as we were walking down the hall, what his next move should be and I suggested to him that he submit his proposal in writing and I would get it out to the board members." Name Bill Galletly signed at bottom.
July 15, 2005:
"Minutes for the Executive Session for GIDA for June 15" (Editors Note: no year noted, and June 15th was written over in handwriting as July 15.)
"Presentation of outline of offer, including sketch on board.
General Discussion on pros and cons of proposal
Larry Koch gave some options he felt might work. Can we open back of building? Can we buy 5 acres to the north? Can we buy land behind building?
Perhaps buy 5 acres and lot in back.
Maybe we should go back to our original position--wait 1 year
The costs for additional land and improvements are to (sic) high and won't leave us enough to start a new facility if we decide to go that route."
(these minutes were unsigned).
The following additional information should be noted regarding Executive Sessions held on March 24 and April 29 by the Grove Industrial Development Authority, from open session minutes: (these minutes were obtained from an outside source, not the City of Grove, and are stamped "unapproved")
On March 24, 2005: "At 4:02 p.m. Helms made the motion for the Board to recess into Executive Session for discussion regarding acquisition or disposal of real property as authorized by 25 O.S. 307 B.3. Seconded by Helms. (probably an error) Aye: Seawright, Koch, Helms and Henkle. Nay: None.
Motion carried.
"At 5:15 p.m. Koch made the motion for the Board to come out of Executive Session with no action taken. Seconded by Seawright. Aye: Seawright, Koch, Helms and Henkle. Nay: None."
At the open meeting, after coming out of executive session, Helms made the motion to appoint the following negotiating team of Larry Koch, Bob Henkle, and Bill Galletly, to negotiate the current purchase contract from Vector Securities (Properties) to alternatively be submitted to the people for a vote. Motion was carried unanimously.
On April 29, 2005: "At 9:03 a.m. Koch made the motion for the Board to recess into Executive Session for discussion regarding acquisition or disposal of real property as authorized by 25 O.S. 307 B.3. Seconded by Helms. Aye: Seawright, Koch, Nuckolls, Helms and Henkle. Nay: None. Motion carried.
"At 9:43 a.m. Seawright made the motion for the Board to come out of Executive Session with no action taken. Seconded by Koch. Aye: Seawright, Koch, Nuckolls, Helms and Henkle. Nay: None."
At the open meeting, according to the minutes, Koch made the motion to authorize the City Manager to contact Vectors Securities Corporation regarding the sale of the Civic Center offer, with the offer contingent on a successful vote of the people. Motion carried unanimously.
A city official stated Thursday that there were no minutes of the Executive Sessions available, "either no session was held or the minutes were not taken." But as one can see from the above, Executive Sessions were held in both cases.
It should be noted, again, that at both open meetings, according to the minutes any offers to sell the current Civic Center were contingent on a successful vote of the people of Grove.
posted by Editor | 2:30 AM
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