Barnhart Introduces Legislation to Ban “Secret Meetings” in Monroe County Legislature
Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart has introduced legislation aimed at closing a loophole that allows lawmakers to hold private meetings with county officials, a practice she says undermines public trust and violates the spirit of open government laws.
The proposed legislation, scheduled for discussion in the Agenda-Charter Committee on Monday at 5 p.m., would prohibit legislative caucuses from privately meeting with County Administration officials to discuss legislation expected to come before the Legislature within 30 days. Exceptions would be made for legal settlements.
“These secretive meetings undermine the intent of open government laws, shutting the public out of important debates,” Barnhart said in a statement. “Decisions affecting taxpayers shouldn’t be made behind closed doors.”
While New York State law and the Monroe County Charter require government meetings to be open to the public, a loophole permits political caucuses to meet privately. According to Barnhart, this has enabled the County Executive’s office to hold closed-door discussions with legislators on major issues, including American Rescue Plan Act spending, the Seneca Park Zoo expansion, and key government appointments.
The legislation is part of a broader push for transparency gaining momentum across the state. The New York Coalition For Open Government, a nonprofit watchdog organization, has been vocal in calling for reforms to strengthen public access to government deliberations. The group has released multiple reports criticizing the widespread use of executive sessions and closed-door meetings by local governments, and has successfully lobbied for increased compliance with open meetings laws in municipalities such as Ithaca, Amherst, and Tompkins County.
Barnhart says the work of the New York Coalition For Open Government shows there’s strong statewide support for shining a light on how government decisions are made. “This is about restoring public confidence and ensuring accountability,” she said.
Under Barnhart’s proposal, legislators would still be permitted to caucus privately among themselves and could continue to contact the administration individually for information. Caucus leaders would also be allowed to meet with county officials.
“The public has a right to witness the deliberations and decisions that shape our community,” Barnhart said. “By increasing transparency, we can hold government accountable and give residents the ability to engage in the process.”
The legislation will be considered by the committee Monday evening.
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