Recently in Hutchison v. Shull, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 decision, that a private meeting between an elected official and a government staff member falls within the Iowa open meetings law if the staff member is acting as an agent for the majority of the elected board.

This case arose when former Warren county employees brought an action against the county and its board of supervisors alleging a violation of the open meetings law. Warren County board of supervisors consists of three elected board members....