Can a city employee attend meetings where a measure is discussed?
YES – with caution. It is possible that a public employee may be present at a meeting, along with a mixture of people, some of whom are not public employees and so are not bound by the same rules as public employees. If discussion concerning campaigning for or against a measure are part of a pre-planned agenda, then the public employees should not participate in those activities, which could involve the need to leave the room. For more ad hoc discussions that may arise when a non-public employee decided to advocate for the measure, unless it becomes extensive, the public employee is not required to leave the room, but they should not join in those activities or discussions, other than to offer impartial information if needed. If the public employee is to be part of a panel of speakers, the facilitator should announce that the public employee involved may not advocate on work time and is only there to provide impartial information. If the employee is not attending on their work time or
YES – with caution. It is possible that a public employee may be present at a meeting, along with a mixture of people, some of whom are not public employees and so are not bound by the same rules as public employees. If discussion concerning campaigning for or against a measure are part of a pre-planned agenda, then the public employees should not participate in those activities, which could involve the need to leave the room. For more ad hoc discussions that may arise when a non-public employee decided to advocate for the measure, unless it becomes extensive, the public employee is not required to leave the room, but they should not join in those activities or discussions, other than to offer impartial information if needed. If the public employee is to be part of a panel of speakers, the facilitator should announce that the public employee involved may not advocate on work time and is only there to provide impartial information. If the employee is not attending on their work time or
