There was a laundry list of issues with the most recent Warren Redevelopment Authority meeting that the city should make sure are remedied.

It’s well within the city’s right to call a special meeting at any time it wants. While as much notice as possible should be given for those who aren’t living and dying with legal notices in the Times Observer or watching the city’s website with a hawk’s eye to know when meetings are taking place, we think the city provided enough notice of the meeting. But, if the city is going to deviate from its regular meeting schedule it is incumbent on the city to make sure enough space is available for likely public interest. The city, after all, is the one setting the date and time. That means the city can make sure there are no scheduling conflicts with a room big enough to fit the members of the public likely to be interested in a meeting’s topic.

The bigger concerns, in our opinion, come with concerns from the public that city staff struggled to know how to handle Sunshine Act issues raised by the public, including with the recording of public proceedings. Making sure proper procedures are handled is important in any meeting, but especially a meeting where it’s entirely possible the city could face a legal challenge based on the decisions made during the meeting.

Danielle Flasher, City Council vice president, said corrective steps have been discussed, including Sunshine Act training for council members, city staff and members of city boards and commissions.

It’s important, especially for contentious issues, that everyone involved ends the process feeling proper rules and procedures were followed. That wouldn’t have been the case following last week’s city RDA meeting even if the board had arrived at the right decisions on procedural matters. The fact there was confusion and debate about the rules of the meeting creates confusion and inflames tempers before any substantive discussions have taken place.

The future of 231-237 Pennsylvania Avenue West has already been the subject of one lawsuit. We all know future discussions over the site are going to be watched closely — so it’s incumbent that those running those discussions do everything in their power to make sure meetings are handled by the book in the future.