Findlay Mayor Cancels Virtual Meeting Over Concerns About Open Meetings

Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn announced that she has cancelled a virtual meeting with representatives from New Albany, Ohio over concerns raised that it violates the open meetings law.

In a statement released by the mayor, she said the meeting was organized to learn more about how New Albany has considered Data Center Development over the past few decades, their lessons
learned, and recommendations on what questions they should be asking.

She added that this was going to serve as an informational session and in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, no discussion specific to Findlay’s zoning or council members’ opinions would have been permitted nor any action taken.

It would not have been a violation of the open meetings law unless they were going to begin deliberating or discussing their specific plans for Findlay.

Saying transparency is her top priority, the mayor cancelled the meeting and provided council members with a website address where they can review the information on their own.

Complete statement from Mayor Muryn:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A Statement from Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn

“At the request of a number of City Council members, I had organized a virtual meeting with representatives from New Albany, Ohio, who have served as a resource for communities across Ohio to learn more about how New Albany has thoughtfully considered Data Center Development over the past few decades, their lessons learned, and recommendations on what questions we should be asking. This was going to serve as an informational session. In accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, no discussion specific to Findlay’s zoning or council members’ opinions would have been permitted nor any action taken. This is similar to if council members were to attend an Ohio Municipal League Seminar and all sit in on a session related to a topic of interest in front of them. This is not a violation of the open meetings law UNLESS they were to begin deliberating or discussing their specific plans for Findlay. However, given concerns around transparency, I have cancelled this meeting and provided the following link datacenters.newalbanyohio.org which Council members can review on their own. Transparency is a top priority for me and for Council, especially on such a complex and contentious issue. I do still believe that Council and the public are best served when members of Council have opportunities to learn and prepare themselves to engage in thoughtful, informed discussions with the public.”