IF I RECUSE MYSELF FROM A SPECIAL MEETING OF A UTILITIE COMMISSION, CAN I BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE ROOM COMPLETELY

[Guest SCOTTBARBER]

AS A MEMBER OF A LOCAL UTILITIE COMMISION, I REALIZED THAT I HAD A CONFLIT OF INTEREST AND RECUSED MY SELF. I WAS THEN ASKED TO LEAVE THE MEETING COMPLETLY SO THE FACIAL EXPRESSION WON'T BE MISS INTERPERTATED. THIS WAS A SPECIAL MEETING AND NO VOTES WERE TAKEN. 

QUESTION IS CAN THEY ASK ME TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM THE ROOM AT A PUBLIC MEETING BECAUSE OF MY POSSIBLE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS?

[Joshua Katz]

As a member, so far as RONR is concerned, you have the right to be there. I don't really see the point of recusing, or of a special meeting for that matter, if no business is conducted. But, anyway, this is a public body, and likely subject to laws that may allow or require this.

[Atul Kapur]

I have seen conflict of interest policies / legislation that has been interpreted this way.

[Richard Brown]

Agreeing with the previous responses, nothing in RONR requires that you leave the meeting but there might  be superior rules or  laws, such as open meetings laws and ethics  laws, that require it.  Those are beyond the scope of this forum.