Citizen suit against council will continue

A judge ruled Tuesday that a case regarding the legality of Athens City Council dinners with Ohio University officials will continue.

The city had filed a motion to dismiss the case, but Judge Alan Goldsberry overruled it. In the case's journal entry, Judge Goldsberry said the definition of meeting does imply an arranged discussion of public business took place, and that the suit can proceed, according to Athens Court of Common Pleas records.

In the suit, Athens resident Melinda Gard alleges that a series of council dinners hosted by OU President Robert Glidden are a violation of the Ohio's open meeting law, according to court records.

In the motion to dismiss, filed on March 30, City Prosecutor Lisa Eliason argued that Gard's suit lacked the proper language to state a claim. Gard allegedly failed to state that a prearranged discussion of public business took place, according to records.

In a response, Gard's lawyers, William Safranek and Joe Hazelbaker, argued that the definition of the word meeting implies an arranged discussion of business. Therefore, they argue the wording in the suit was correct, according to records.

The judge denied the motion.

- Rob Chalifoux