Court Rules That Airport Panel Violated State Open Meeting Law

A state court of appeal has ruled that a Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority subcommittee violated state law covering public access during a closed meeting nearly two years ago, officials said.

The court, which did not impose a penalty, ruled that the authority’s legal committee technically violated the Ralph M. Brown Act when it discussed a matter not on the agenda for its Dec. 12, 1994, meeting, officials said.

A lawsuit protesting the authority’s violation of the Brown Act was filed by aviation buff R.C. “Chappy” Czapiewskiof North Hollywood, who regularly attends authority meetings at Burbank Airport.

Nelson E. Brestoff, a lawyer representing Czapiewski, said Tuesday the ruling helps efforts to “prevent local governments from circumventing the law requiring open meetings.”

Airport officials said they were satisfied with the opinion the court issued last week. The legal committee did not intend to conduct secret business, but it did accept a telephone call from a lawyer regarding a passenger terminal matter not on the agenda that day, officials said.

“The authority has a high regard for the Brown Act and its open and closed meeting obligations under the law, and this decision is totally in keeping with our attitude,” said Thomas E. Greer, the airport’s executive director.