Topeka ? Gov.-elect Kathleen Sebelius remained unmoving Friday in her decision to close meetings of her review teams’ discussions about what she can do to improve state government.

Sebelius’ chief of staff, Kathy Greenlee, said the governor-elect wouldn’t reconsider the decision. Last week, Sebelius said the teams would have public hearings, but Kansans won’t be able to attend meetings when team members discuss the suggestions.

Greenlee’s comments came in a letter sent to The Associated Press. Also Friday, Sebelius announced the 59 members of her five review teams – which she dubbed Kansas Budget Efficiency Savings Teams, or BEST.

Last week, Sebelius only announced who would head each team as she started the “top-to-bottom review” of state government that was the hallmark of her successful campaign against Republican Tim Shallenburger.

Jeff Burkhead, executive director of the Kansas Press Assn., said a change made last year in the Kansas Open Meetings Act was intended to cover exactly the type of groups Sebelius wishes to keep secret.

Burkhead said KPA would be sending an open letter to Sebelius and all state media next week, asking her to reconsider.

On Monday, the AP wrote Joyce Allegrucci, who heads Sebelius’ transition team, asking for notification of team meetings and stating a desire to attend those meetings.

“Although I appreciate your wish to attend all of BEST’s meetings, it falls well outside the reach of KOMA,” Greenlee wrote in her reply Friday.

Among other things, she said the teams had no authority to make governmental decisions or act for the state and weren’t a part of government.

However, she did not address one concern raised in the AP’s letter – that government officials should follow both the spirit and the letter of the law.

“The business that the public pays for ought to be done in the public,” said Paul Stevens, chief of bureau for the AP’s Kansas-Missouri operations.

Stevens said the AP’s next step would be to seek an opinion from the attorney general.

A spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office last week said the Open Meetings Act only would apply if Sebelius already was governor.

Also saying Sebelius should reconsider her decision was Rick Thames, editor of The Wichita Eagle and KPA’s legislative director, who said, “If it’s good enough when she is governor, it’s good enough now.”

He recalled one campaign commercial where Sebelius put on rubber gloves and talked about cleaning up state government.

“There’s no antiseptic more effective than fresh air and sunshine,” Thames said.

Sebelius and her aides have said team members are volunteers.

The law allows Sebelius to use state employees and offices to help with the transition. The state budget includes $150,000 for transition expenses, both for her and outgoing Gov. Bill Graves.

Sebelius also set up a telephone hot line and an e-mail address for taking suggestions. The phone line is toll free for callers, but the state pays $25 a month for the line and 9 cents a minute on each call.

Sen. David Adkins, R-Leawood, chairman of her public safety team, said his Wednesday meeting would be open. But he wasn’t there and reporters were turned away by team member Randy Rathbun, a former U.S. attorney for Kansas.

Other team leaders include Adrian Polanksy of Belleville, agriculture and natural resources; Lt. Gov.-elect John Moore, economy; Pat Gaunce, Kansas City, human services; and Howard Fricke, infrastructure.