Here’s to the state’s Open Meeting Law. Without it, city and town officials could conduct the public’s business behind closed doors. That’s not the way to handle town affairs.
They could also meet in a group large enough to constitute a quorum in a private setting to discuss what should be done at a posted meeting. And in this digital age, they could accomplish the same via email. Ditto on both.
The state Attorney General’s Office takes these violations seriously.
So did a Greenfield resident, Paul Jablon, who blew the whistle on the Greenfield School Committee by filing a complaint May 2 with the Attorney General. His concern was that committee members, specifically Susan Hollins, a former superintendent, used email to discuss the school budget instead of at a meeting.
This email exchange might not have been intended to circumvent the law. But basically, the School Committee was conducting a virtual meeting.
The Attorney General’s office agreed the School Committee violated Open Meeting Law in this case, and also noted the School Committee has taken corrective action.
That action included admitting the violation, publishing the emails on the city’s website and to undergo training about the law, which took place at this week’s meeting.
As far as we are concerned, this is a case of a lesson learned on the part of the School Committee and hopefully this experience will be sufficient to avoid a repeat violation.
The Open Meeting Law was enacted in 1975, and has since been amended. But the intent remains the same: keep the public’s business in the open.
Discussions and votes by a state, county or municipal group must take place at a date, time and public place that has been posted 48 hours in advance. That will ensure the public can attend. It also regulates what can be discussed in executive session.
We can only imagine the shenanigans that went on before the law was passed.
We also commend Jablon for taking the law seriously. While we don’t condone or encourage frivolous complaints, there may be other incidents in our communities where public officials are bending the rules about open meeting.
If so, let the Attorney General’s Office know.