
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, April 25, 1993                   TAG: 9304230099
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

HERE'S WHAT THE VA. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT SAYS

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act is founded on the principle of openness, encouraging the public to participate in the affairs of government.

It permits - but does not require - closed meetings for a limited number of reasons, including discussion of lawsuits, purchases of real estate and other matters where open discussion might harm the public good.

The law states:

This chapter shall be liberally construed to promote an increased awareness by all persons of governmental activities and afford every opportunity to citizens to witness the operations of government. Any exception or exemption . . . shall be narrowly construed in order that no thing which should be public may be hidden from any person.

Except as otherwise specifically provided by law . . . all meetings shall be public meetings . . .

Public bodies are not required to conduct executive or closed meetings. However, should a public body determine that an executive or closed meeting is desirable, such meeting shall be held only for the following purposes:

And the law goes on to say that meetings may be closed only to discuss specific persons - not a general group, such as teachers or central office employees.

by CNB