The Grants Pass Tribune has received a copy of a formal complaint submitted this week by a concerned Josephine County resident, who alleges repeated violations of Oregon’s public meeting notice requirements. The email, sent by JJ Scofield, was addressed to county officials and carbon copied to the Tribune, which is now sharing the matter with the public in the interest of transparency and accountability.
According to the complaint, Josephine County has failed to lawfully post adequate public notice for several of its regular weekly meetings, including those involving the county’s legal counsel and work/business sessions (WBS). Scofield cites Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 199-050-0040, which mandates that regular meetings be announced at least 48 hours in advance. In contrast, the complaint alleges that the county has been posting these meetings with only 24 hours’ notice in recent months.
Under Oregon law, 24-hour notice is permissible only for special meetings, while emergency meetings may be held with less than 24 hours’ notice—but only if the nature of the emergency is explicitly stated in the public notice. Scofield asserts that the county’s ongoing behavior does not meet these legal exceptions and characterizes the actions as a “willful” disregard of statutory obligations.
“There is no excuse for willfully failing to follow the law,” Scofield stated in his message. He noted that Wally Hicks, the county’s legal counsel of ten years, and Michael Sellers, who has served as a legislative aide for nearly as long, should both be well aware of the legal standards for public meeting notifications.
Scofield concluded the letter by offering a conditional resolution: if the county ceases its current practices and returns to lawful posting timelines, he will consider the matter resolved and withdraw the complaint. However, if the issue persists, Scofield said he would escalate the complaint to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission.
The email also included a personal note clarifying that the complaint was submitted during Scofield’s lunch break, as a private citizen—not in any professional capacity. He also preemptively requested that County Commissioner Chris Barnett refrain from any retaliatory action, citing concerns about prior instances of alleged retaliation against constituents who have exercised their First Amendment rights.
The Tribune has independently verified the applicable legal requirements cited in the complaint and is reviewing recent county meeting postings to assess compliance with Oregon’s public notice laws. In the spirit of government transparency and public engagement, the newspaper encourages the county to address the concerns raised and will continue to monitor any developments.
This developing issue underscores the importance of open government and the legal safeguards designed to ensure that citizens are informed and able to participate in public decision-making.