The Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau board this month will discuss approving a resolution that outlines how the bureau proceeds with public meetings.

Tourism director Jack Cohen reiterated Tuesday that his organization never has been subject to the state’s Sunshine Act, but that doesn’t mean the group won’t follow it.

That’s why the board on March 20 will discuss approving a resolution that confirms the bureau’s commitment to being open and transparent.

In part, the document reads that although the bureau isn’t by law required to adhere to the Sunshine Act, “the bureau has a solid and proud history of being open, accessible and transparent” in its affairs.

The resolution also confirms that the board will only go into executive session for legal matters, employment issues and the sale or lease of property, the same exceptions that are part of the state’s Sunshine Act.

That law proscribes when a public agency must conduct its business in public and when, in a few sensitive areas, it may exclude the public.

“We knew we didn’t qualify under the (Sunshine) act, but we’ve always been open,” Cohen said. “We’re going to continue to do the same.”

In addition, the board plans on clarifying issues concerning the recent bylaw changes that were approved last month.

In a document sent by board President Rodney Schaffer, tourism officials said they received no inquires from the more than 300 tourism members concerning the bylaw changes.

Members were given 30 days to review the changes and to voice their opinions on them.

One of the more controversial changes to the bylaws included the elimination of a membership committee that recruited and approved new businesses.

However, the document released Tuesday contended that the board dissolved the membership committee only because it had been inactive for several years and its responsibilities had shifted to the board.

Also, the document explained the reasoning behind the reduction of membership meetings from four per year to three.

According to Cohen, the board decided in 2008 to change the number of meetings, but a clerical error resulted in there still being four membership meetings per year in the bylaws.

The most recent change was implemented to officially reflect the changes made in 2008, Cohen said.