I don't understand the word "possible" in that headline: The Columbia County Building and Facilities and Public Works/Waste Board of Supervisors committees met July 22 at Kozel’s restaurant in Ghent without public notice. That is a violation of the Open Meetings Law. They met after a tour of county facilities -- which was announced -- but no mention of the meeting appeared on the county's web site or in the Public Notices section of The Register-Star. No one in the article contradicts those facts.

JEWETT - The Ethics Committee will investigate Town Supervisor Michael Flaherty, who is accused by Jewett highway superintendent Robert Mallory of for failing to secure a building permit for a project at his home. “I have attended board meetings in this room for 15-plus years. Anyone attending only a few meetings would know that a building permit is required for anything outside of a four-foot fence," said Mallory. “Supervisor Flaherty knew a permit was needed and [for] whatever reason failed to obtain one."

HUDSON - The good news: there are not two fuel dumps buried next to M.C. Smith Intermediate School in Hudson. The bad news: it cost $10,000 to find a lot of junk. George Keeler, the Hudson City School District Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds, told to the Board of Education about the buried treasure at the Board's meeting Monday.

KINDERHOOK - Four candidates the Columbia County Conservative party endorsed to run for Kinderhook town offices will not be appearing on the Conservative line on the ballot at the November Election for failing to to file a certificate of authorization. The candidates are Patrick Grattan, nominated to head the slate as town supervisor, and newcomers Patsy Leader and Glenn Smith for seats on the Town Board, and Incumbent Highway Superintendent John Ruchel, Jr. for a second term in office. Lisa Mills, the Republican candidate for town justice will still be listed on the Conservative line, as candidates for the justice position are not required to fill out the authorization forms.