a Question of Meta Tags

[maverick]

When I first started doing this a year or so ago, I read an article that suggested there be an additional description line in the and configured so being new at the game it seemed like a good idea. I have recently read an article that suggests additional information in the search tags could be penalized by the SE's and am wondering if this additional description tag would fall into that category.
I know there are brilliant people here that are garnering a tonne more traffic than I and would like your advice.

Many thanks

Maverick