CHICORA — When a citizen recorded a borough council meeting last week, the members quickly adjourned. But after the incident, council members received a quick refresher on Pennsylvania’s open meeting law.

Susan Callender said she was using her phone to record the Aug. 13 council meeting when James Turner, council vice president, asked her if she was taping the public event.

On the video, which she provided to the Eagle, Callender can be heard saying she was recording.

Turner responded by saying Callender didn’t have his permission to record the meeting.

Callender replied, saying the meeting was public and video taping it was legal.

Turner told her that she couldn’t tape him without permission.

She responded by saying she was taping the meeting.

Turner then made a motion to adjourn the meeting, the motion received a second and the meeting ended with a vote to adjourn.

But some council members continued talking after the apparent adjournment.

“They didn’t know I had the right to record,” Callender said. “Apparently they’re not aware of the Sunshine law, that you’re allowed to video (record public government meetings).”

Read more about this story in Tuesday’s Butler Eagle.