Brentwood Aldermen Meeting with Auditor to be Closed, Sunshine Law Supports It

On Jan. 29 the Brentwood Board of Aldermen will meet with state auditors to review the state’s audit of the city.

The audit was initiated by a citizen-led petition drive, so resident Karen Smith said, in an effort for transparency the meeting should be open to Brentwood residents.

“It was paid for with taxpayer money, so I think the taxpayers have the right to be able to hear the results of that audit at the same time as the board of aldermen,” she said.

She said the meeting doesn’t qualify under the three topics that would justify going into a closed session, which are personnel, legal and real estate.

State auditor spokesperson Spence Jackson said the meeting is the exit meeting and is always closed.

“The report is still a draft and not yet approved by the state auditor, so it is not considered a final and public document,” he said in an email to Patch. “The purpose of the meeting it to discuss the draft report and ensure its accuracy, and begin the auditee response process.”

Spence said in a previous email that the board of aldermen's review will have no editing power over the audit.

He said the Missouri Sunshine Law allows meetings related to confidential communications between a public governmental body and its auditor to be closed. He cited Section 610.021 of the law.

Jackson said the meeting is a final piece of the audit, and the board's response will be included when it is released to the public, which is expected in early 2013.

Also in Patch:

• State Audit of Brentwood Started Last Week
• Residents Seek State Audit of Brentwood's Finances
• Brentwood Board of Aldermen to Review State's Audit in January