Los Angeles County supervisors met privately on Tuesday to discuss demands from The Times that they hand over transcripts from two recent meetings following alleged violations of one of California’s fundamental open government laws.

The discussion, held as part of Tuesday’s private board meeting, came after a lawyer

represent

The Times sent the

regulators a letter accusing them

of twice violating the Brown Act, which aims

to ensure

the public can watch local government meetings.

Under the Brown Act, local agencies are allowed to discuss certain topics behind closed doors. These topics may include lawsuits, employee performance reviews, or union negotiations. Local governments must specify the topic and publish it on an agenda prior to the meeting.

“What you can’t do is use that as a cover to talk about policy-oriented decisions that the public has a right to be a part of,” said attorney Kelly Aviles, who wrote the April 21 letter on behalf of The Times.

The Times alleged that the county violated the Brown Act in closed sessions

hero

on March 24 and April 18

from this year

both

meetings that took place at a time of crisis for the county probation department. The March 24 meeting was held the day after state regulators alerted county officials

that they are the state

would probably move to close the provinces two youth halls.

In both meetings, the province placed “evaluations of the performance of department heads” on the agenda for the closed session. The Times claims in its letter that the board actually used the time for a broader discussion of the Probation Service.

The letter quotes a statement issued by Board Chair Janice Hahn saying the March 24 closed session was held to “find a path forward to keep both the youth in our halls and our staff safe and supported.”

Aviles argued in her letter that such a conversation would be considered a lot

“

contrary

“

policy issue beyond what the Brown Act allows.

“Moreover, a pre-emptive discussion about the state of provincial juvenile facilities or their possible closures extends well beyond the staff exception,” the letter states.

A spokesman for

Chairman of the Board Janice

Hahn declined to comment.

The Times is asking for a transcript of the March 24 and April 18 meetings. In addition to requesting the transcripts,

the letter

So

asks the county to “abstain from similar offenses in the future.”