By JIM BUTLER
Evidently no party challenged within the prescribed period the validity of GAEDA action at its June meeting, a session not posted through Monday on the site’s agenda index listings.
State law requires at least 24-hour notice on public web sites in addition to posting at the meeting place. The web posting sometimes gets lost in the shuffle.
Any actions taken at non-noticed meetings are voidable but must be challenged within 60 days.
That deadline was Sunday though an extension is provided to Mondays when such occurs.
Affirmation of a meeting is in minutes of the June session posted in the web site index.
If the panel met in July a notice did not appear through Monday. Minutes would not ordinarily be published until approved at a subsequent meeting.
Notice and minutes of a committee meeting in July are in the index.
Mid-summer cancellation of sessions is not out of the ordinary for agencies when governing members’ travel schedules impact quorum needs.
The panel’s regular monthly meeting will not be held today, according to notice on its website site. Two special meetings have been held this month.
According to the August 7 agenda, the Authority was to consider appropriating $25,000 to a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with Bonton Media for its “Season One Digital Storytelling” campaign.
The agenda, as is normal in most instances, does not elaborate on what is involved.
On August 11 the commission met to administer her oath to new member Kristen Lemoine and hold an executive session relative to potential litigation — who, what, why, when – not indicated.
Litigation is part of doing business. In GAEDA’s case, recently posted audit findings show about $157,000 in legal and professional fees in 2025.
Total income was $1.1 million; Program expenses were $970,000.
Economic development project support totaled $535,000. Payroll cost, including benefits and taxes, was $183,000.
The Authority used accumulated reserve funds to purchase a headquarters/rental space building on Murray Street.
Still on the table is about $298,000 the city claims is due it from the now eighty-sixed W&G CEA and about $55,000 District Judge Monique Rauls ruled in April is due from Executive Director Angela Varnado.
That is a result of overpayment based on action in a 2024 meeting subsequently ruled illegal.
GAEDA told auditors in June it was still waiting on the formal order before collecting.