Prater Requests Information About Alleged Open Meeting Act Violation

Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater has sent a letter to Oklahoma Commission for Human Services Chairman Richard DeVaughn, DDS, requesting an explanation of cause as to why the Commission's lack of public vote on returning from closed session or to adjourn.

Of note from the letter (my emphasis in bold):

Anticipating that some may consider this violation de minimis due to the fact that the vote in question is simply to adjourn the meeting, I would submit that there are no de minimis violations of the Open Meetings Act. Oklahoma's laws on openness in government serve an important and noble purpose. ... The practice mentioned above of not returning from executive sessions and formally adjourning the meeting is careless at best and falls short of what the public has a right to expect from its public servants.

I've attached the letter below. I'm sure that Oklahoma Watchdog will have more information as soon as it becomes available.