The June 2 special meeting held by Coaldale Borough Council was special in more ways than one.

The original advertising request, sent via email, to announce the meeting in a public notice in the Times News stated it would be held June 3.When that error was discovered, the Coaldale secretary apparently sent a correction.According to the Times News advertising department, the first email was received but not the second.The ad ran with the incorrect date.The secretary furnished copies of her emails to prove both had been sent.But nobody called in a correction when the ad was published with the wrong date.There was plenty of time for a correction to be made because the meeting date was still one week away.Ultimately, a Coaldale Borough Council special meeting was held without proper public notice. The meeting was not covered by press because we didn't know about it.This amounted to an illegal meeting even though nobody is suggesting such was the intent.Of course, issues often have a way of compounding. And that's what happened.At the next regular meeting held this week, council ratified actions which had been taken during the improperly advertised special meeting.Minutes from that special meeting were unavailable.But these items apparently had been discussed: realignment of the police pension account, approval of intent to advertise for members of the zoning hearing board, acceptance of a letter from zoning hearing board solicitor regarding an upcoming June 23 meeting about the cell tower, and a decision to organize a meeting to discuss forming a joint sewer authority.These are issues important to residents of the borough.The public has a right to know.A well-informed public is crucial to the operation and management of our communities.In fact, the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act exists to ensure the right of the public to be present at all meetings of public bodies and to witness deliberation, policy formulation and decision making.These are vital steps to the enhancement and proper functioning of the democratic process.Coaldale residents have a right to observe and participate in their government at work.Of course, humans make mistakes.That's why the Times News has a policy allowing advertisers 24 hours after an ad is published to make any corrections necessary.The recent misfiring within the communications system likely was a fluke.Still, there is a take-away lesson.Public notices are a critical step in the process of government, and their accuracy is imperative.By DONALD R. SERFASSdserfass@tnonline.com