Professor Asks for Review of Brown Act Compliance

CAMARILLO — A philosophy professor at Moorpark College asked college trustees Monday night to establish an independent commission to determine whether the board is complying with state law regulating closed-session meetings.

Elton Hall submitted a three-page proposal to the Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees, requesting that an independent body assess the trustees’ ability to keep private matters secret while ensuring that the public is properly informed.

“Simple assertions that the letter and spirit of the Brown Act are being followed cannot be reassuring, of course, because citizens have no way of verifying such claims,” wrote Hall, president of the Moorpark College Academic Senate. “Equally, suspicions to the contrary cannot be verified or credibly denied.”

Hall suggests that trustees, district administrators and the district’s academic senates could each appoint a member to a three-member commission.

His request came in response to trustee Norman Nagel’s push last month for the district to conduct its own investigation into possible wrongdoing.

Nagel asserted that someone who attended closed-session board meetings or had access to the transcript of those meetings had leaked some unspecified information that should have remained confidential. Other board members denied disclosing private matters.

The Ralph M. Brown Act is a state law designed to keep public officials from taking actions or making decisions without prior public notification. Officials are allowed to exclude the public from certain discussions, such as those involving personnel, litigation and labor or property negotiations.

Chancellor Philip Westin agreed to look into the alleged breaches of privacy, but whether that investigation is concluded has not been disclosed. But Hall said he believes an internal inquiry isn’t enough and that an independent study would provide a more accurate assessment.

The board, which meets monthly near its headquarters at the Camarillo Airport, is not required to respond to Hall’s recommendation. But if trustees do vote to consider forming an independent commission, the Brown Act requires the panel to include the item on the agenda of an upcoming meeting.

The board accepted the proposal without comment.