Hennessey Mayor Randy Bohnstedt said he could only contact one board member about a recent financial claim that was coming before the board because it would be against the law.

Here is that law that applies to all Oklahoma public boards, including school and county, city and town boards: “In Oklahoma, a board member calling other board members is a violation of the Open Meeting Act if a majority of the board discusses public business. This prohibition extends to informal gatherings, phone calls, and electronic communications like “reply all” emails, which are used to circumvent the Act’s requirement for public notice, and a posted agenda. Therefore, such communications cannot be used to decide, or vote, on official business.”