From The Pueblo Chieftain:  Two nationally recognized experts on open meetings and freedom of information laws confirmed this week that three Pueblo City Council members engaged in an illegal meeting over email with a county employee.

Christopher Beall and Steven Zansberg are attorneys with the Denver law firm of Levine, Sullivan, Koch & Schultz, one of the nation’s leadingfirms in freedom of the press issues. Both have long histories representing media on freedom of information matters and both have advised the Colorado Press Association for many years.

Zansberg is the president of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition.

They said Thursday that the instant three council members were copied on the email exchange with Pueblo County Transportation Director Greg Severance on his “bazooka plan” against area trash haulers, they were in violation of the ColoradoOpen Meetings Law.

“One does not need to affirmatively ‘speak’ in order to be a participantin ‘a meeting at which public business is discussed,’ ” said Zansberg.

Visit The Pueblo Chieftain for more.