Monday, March 06, 2006
Md.: City appeals ruling requiring BDC to go public
City appeals ruling requiring BDC to go public
Court decision in Jan. found that agency subject to open-government laws
By John Fritze
Sun Reporter
Originally published March 6, 2006, 4:32 PM EST
In an effort to shield city development deals from the state's open meetings and public records laws, Baltimore attorneys appealed a decision today that would have required the Baltimore Development Corp. to open its books to the public.
City attorneys asked Maryland's Court of Appeals to overturn the decision of a lower court, made in January, that required the city development corporation to be treated as a public entity, subject to open-government laws.
The case could have a broad effect on how the development entity conducts its business. Last year, the agency negotiated the building of a $305 million convention hotel -- paid for with city bonds -- largely in secret.
In a decision filed Jan. 24, the Court of Special Appeals found that the connection between City Hall and corporation's board was too close to suggest that BDC is a separate entity. And in debatable cases, the decision said, the law requires government to err on the side of openness.
Court decision in Jan. found that agency subject to open-government laws
By John Fritze
Sun Reporter
Originally published March 6, 2006, 4:32 PM EST
In an effort to shield city development deals from the state's open meetings and public records laws, Baltimore attorneys appealed a decision today that would have required the Baltimore Development Corp. to open its books to the public.
City attorneys asked Maryland's Court of Appeals to overturn the decision of a lower court, made in January, that required the city development corporation to be treated as a public entity, subject to open-government laws.
The case could have a broad effect on how the development entity conducts its business. Last year, the agency negotiated the building of a $305 million convention hotel -- paid for with city bonds -- largely in secret.
In a decision filed Jan. 24, the Court of Special Appeals found that the connection between City Hall and corporation's board was too close to suggest that BDC is a separate entity. And in debatable cases, the decision said, the law requires government to err on the side of openness.
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