The controversial meetings held by Mariposa supervisors regarding the Hazel Green situation may in fact be in violation of The Brown Act.  This law prohibits the supervisors from excluding the public from their meetings.  There are two exceptions. One is if discussing personnel matters and the other is if they are discussing litigation. Regarding litigation, however it does not include litigation involving a third party as in the case under question.

            There are unanswered questions regarding the idea of joining a developer in suing the Park Service. The developer in question has stated that he would pay the county’s legal costs, however, nothing has been said about costs incurred if the county should lose and the court rules the case frivolous and the Park Services sues for damages and legal expenses.  Who pays for those items if the county should lose in court?

            Another question unexplained is what is the county going to gain by suing the Park Service to begin with?

            Considering  the many benefits the county receives from the Park not the least being the bed tax that grows and grows year after year and this year is more than ten million dollars and the growing influx of tourists and the moneys they spend here.

            Angering the Park Service to aid a developer seems more than a bit silly rather downright stupid.

            Perhaps allowing the public to witness that controversial event  would be just too embarrassing for elected officials to bear.