Council Declares STATE OF EMERGENCY?

About noon today, the town council, at the request of the police chief, declared an official state of emergency. Sgt Xavier Frausto was dressed in tactical gear when he and the police chief demanded the mayor get in their car. Mayor Foster declined, and drove himself to town hall. Frausto unlocked the door for the mayor. Foster and others saw town officials convened for official business, with the town clerk and town attorney also present. "This is an illegal meeting!" said Mayor Foster. Sgt Frausto locked the door on him.  When asked later for a comment about what transpired, Concilman Bob Kelley said he couldn't talk about it, Barbara Cowell said she didn't understand who called the meeting, or what thay had done, and Jerry Lukkasson denied it. According to another news report "Taft told the Pioneer the meeting came about after discussions between Town Attorney Martin Brannan, Gilbert and herself regarding threatening e-mails sent to council members and town officials. She said they received advice from attorneys for the League of Arizona Towns and Cities that they should declare an emergency and call a special council meeting."

According to "Rain", aka Anna English, "Council members tell me town is not under martial law. Linda, the clerk at Police Dept is telling callers today hat the town is!!! So there you have it! "

What a tangled web we weave...


http://www.ci.quartzsite.az.us/Town%20Code/chapt%203.htm
See: Section 3-2-1 "Town Manager", E "Powers and Duties"
"In case of accident, disaster or other circumstances creating a public emergency, the manager may award contracts, and make purchases for the purpose of meeting said emergency"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/state-of-emergency-declared-in-western-arizona-town-amid-corruption-allegations-by-mayor/2011/07/11/gIQAZe2T9H_story.html

http://www2.az-independent.com/2011/07/10/state-of-emergency-in-quartzsite/

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=320829

http://deadlinelive.info/2011/07/11/mayor-claims-quartzsite-arizona-under-martial-law-after-state-of-emergency-declared-during-secret-meeting/

http://news.yahoo.com/video/phoenixktvk3tv-15751070/state-of-emergency-declared-in-quartzsite-ariz-25916676.html#crsl=%252Fvideo%252Fphoenixktvk3tv-15751070%252Fstate-of-emergency-declared-in-quartzsite-ariz-25916676.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hhUNRAsfa4FKlNnMnoCDpemPjYZA?docId=037c14c2c0fd4aab8d84a27c45b2d803

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/offbeat/out-of-control-az-meeting-goes-viral-07102011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDG86YQLiNY&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brPbB5YN018&feature=related

http://www.outpost-of-freedom.com/blog/?p=538

http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/News/093272-2011-07-12-state-of-emergency-declared-in-quartzsite-ariz.htm?From=News

What's the difference between declaring an emergency and martial law? See:
http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_mlaw.html

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/_/dict.aspx?word=martial+law



While the council can hold an emergency meeting, it MUST be open to the public.
38-431.02. Notice of meetings
A. Public notice of all meetings of public bodies shall be given as follows:
1. The public bodies of this state, including governing bodies of charter schools, shall:
(a) Conspicuously post a statement on their website stating where all public notices of their meetings will be posted, including the physical and electronic locations, and shall give additional public notice as is reasonable and practicable as to all meetings.
(b) Post all public meeting notices on their website and give additional public notice as is reasonable and practicable as to all meetings. A technological problem or failure that either prevents the posting of public notices on a website or that temporarily or permanently prevents the use of all or part of the website does not preclude the holding of the meeting for which the notice was posted if the public body complies with all other public notice requirements required by this section.
2. The public bodies of the counties and school districts shall:
(a) Conspicuously post a statement on their website stating where all public notices of their meetings will be posted, including the physical and electronic locations, and shall give additional public notice as is reasonable and practicable as to all meetings.
(b) Post all public meeting notices on their website and give additional public notice as is reasonable and practicable as to all meetings. A technological problem or failure that either prevents the posting of public notices on a website or that temporarily or permanently prevents the use of all or part of the website does not preclude the holding of the meeting for which the notice was posted if the public body complies with all other public notice requirements required by this section.
3. Special districts that are formed pursuant to title 48:
(a) May conspicuously post a statement on their website stating where all public notices of their meetings will be posted, including the physical and electronic locations, and shall give additional public notice as is reasonable and practicable as to all meetings.
(b) May post all public meeting notices on their website and shall give additional public notice as is reasonable and practicable as to all meetings. A technological problem or failure that either prevents the posting of public notices on a website or that temporarily or permanently prevents the use of all or part of the website does not preclude the holding of the meeting for which the notice was posted if the public body complies with all other public notice requirements required by this section.
(c) If a statement or notice is not posted pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) of this paragraph, shall file a statement with the clerk of the board of supervisors stating where all public notices of their meetings will be posted and shall give additional public notice as is reasonable and practicable as to all meetings.
4. The public bodies of the cities and towns shall:
(a) Conspicuously post a statement on their website or on a website of an association of cities and towns stating where all public notices of their meetings will be posted, including the physical and electronic locations, and shall give additional public notice as is reasonable and practicable as to all meetings.
(b) Post all public meeting notices on their website or on a website of an association of cities and towns and give additional public notice as is reasonable and practicable as to all meetings. A technological problem or failure that either prevents the posting of public notices on a website or that temporarily or permanently prevents the use of all or part of the website does not preclude the holding of the meeting for which the notice was posted if the public body complies with all other public notice requirements required by this section.
B. If an executive session is scheduled, a notice of the executive session shall state the provision of law authorizing the executive session, and the notice shall be provided to the:
1. Members of the public body.
2. General public.
C. Except as provided in subsections D and E of this section, meetings shall not be held without at least twenty-four hours' notice to the members of the public body and to the general public. The twenty-four hour period includes Saturdays if the public has access to the physical posted location in addition to any website posting, but excludes Sundays and other holidays prescribed in section 1-301.
D. In case of an actual emergency, a meeting, including an executive session, may be held on such notice as is appropriate to the circumstances. If this subsection is utilized for conduct of an emergency session or the consideration of an emergency measure at a previously scheduled meeting the public body must post a public notice within twenty-four hours declaring that an emergency session has been held and setting forth the information required in subsections H and I of this section.
E. A meeting may be recessed and resumed with less than twenty-four hours' notice if public notice of the initial session of the meeting is given as required in subsection A of this section, and if, before recessing, notice is publicly given as to the time and place of the resumption of the meeting or the method by which notice shall be publicly given.
F. A public body that intends to meet for a specified calendar period, on a regular day, date or event during the calendar period, and at a regular place and time, may post public notice of the meetings at the beginning of the period. The notice shall specify the period for which notice is applicable.
G. Notice required under this section shall include an agenda of the matters to be discussed or decided at the meeting or information on how the public may obtain a copy of such an agenda. The agenda must be available to the public at least twenty-four hours before the meeting, except in the case of an actual emergency under subsection D of this section. The twenty-four hour period includes Saturdays if the public has access to the physical posted location in addition to any website posting, but excludes Sundays and other holidays prescribed in section 1-301.
H. Agendas required under this section shall list the specific matters to be discussed, considered or decided at the meeting. The public body may discuss, consider or make decisions only on matters listed on the agenda and other matters related thereto.
I. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, notice of executive sessions shall be required to include only a general description of the matters to be considered. The agenda shall provide more than just a recital of the statutory provisions authorizing the executive session, but need not contain information that would defeat the purpose of the executive session, compromise the legitimate privacy interests of a public officer, appointee or employee or compromise the attorney-client privilege.
J. Notwithstanding subsections H and I of this section, in the case of an actual emergency a matter may be discussed and considered and, at public meetings, decided, if the matter was not listed on the agenda and a statement setting forth the reasons necessitating the discussion, consideration or decision is placed in the minutes of the meeting and is publicly announced at the public meeting. In the case of an executive session, the reason for consideration of the emergency measure shall be announced publicly immediately before the executive session.
K. Notwithstanding subsection H of this section, the chief administrator, presiding officer or a member of a public body may present a brief summary of current events without listing in the agenda the specific matters to be summarized, if:
1. The summary is listed on the agenda.
2. The public body does not propose, discuss, deliberate or take legal action at that meeting on any matter in the summary unless the specific matter is properly noticed for legal action.