Controlled Access to Zoning Board Meeting

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In an apparent change of procedures, the Territorial Zoning Board, the government committee that reviews and approves applications from businesses to build at their proposed sites, has limited media access to their public hearings.

KHJ News reporter Tauva Esera who was covering a hearing of the Zoning Board yesterday was told to wait outside until she is called in.

Normally members of the media can sit in at the zoning Board hearings but that wasn’t the case yesterday.

KHJ News had been following the progress of the Rotary Club’s Pala lagoon Community Swimming Pool which was approved then disapproved by the board.

Rotary then submitted a new application to the Zoning Board.

When we had enquired with the Zoning Board Administrator Faau Seumanutafa as to when their board would be discussing the Rotary application, he said it would be on the agenda of yesterday’s meeting.

However we learned yesterday that the Rotary ‘s new application for a variance was still under advisement,

There were other applications on the Zoning Board’s agenda for yesterday’s meeting however our reporter was told that we have to wait outside until we are called in.

When our reporter was called into the DOC conference room and introduced herself, the Zoning Board Chairman Filifaatali Mike Fuiava told her she can get the information that we needed from Administrator Faau after their meeting.

The Zoning Board meeting was continuing after 3pm after our reporter had left to cover other events.

We are seeking clarification from the Zoning Board Chairman concerning this apparent change in policy on media access to Zoning Board hearings.

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