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How to meet the open meeting lain(February 13,2006) <br /> should indicate what occurred. <br /> Making the minutes public should be a priority of any board or agency.However, <br /> there is no specific time limit with regard to the requirement. A reasonableness <br /> standard is typically used in determining when minutes should have been released <br /> and it is always recommended that minutes be approved and released after an <br /> organization's next open meeting when and if possible. <br /> •Public organizations can,on a limited basis,hold discussions in private in what <br /> is known as executive session. However,the guidelines are very strict with regard <br /> to the exceptions,and notice and record beeping requirements must still be met. <br /> With so many _ F r {., -�w .,i- <br /> governmental bodies, <br /> committees and v:. <br /> a <br /> subcommittees within ....- <br /> our jurisdiction, we field <br /> complaints regarding <br /> innocent mistakes <br /> regularly,usually based <br /> upon a lacy of -r. <br /> understanding rather than <br /> some unproper motive. <br /> In almost all of these Go to <br /> cases,the organization is <br /> asked to ensure that <br /> future issues are <br /> adequately planned and <br /> noticed. <br /> We find that most transgressions of the OML occur as the result of a lack of <br /> understanding the basic precepts enumerated above. It is important to remember <br /> that the vast majority of people serving in a local governmental capacity are doing <br /> o out of a sense of public duty and service to the community. As a result,the <br /> District Attorney is arrays willin'g to work with any group to provide training <br /> resources, guidance,and to answer questions regarding the law's requirements. <br /> Our goal is to ensure that the spirit of the law is met without compromising the <br /> common-sense aspect of making government functional,accessible and <br /> accountable to the people of the Commonwealth.- Any local governmental entity i <br /> invited to contact my office to set up ONIL training at their site. Agencies and <br /> boards who have several new members find this helpful. Additional information <br /> regarding the OML is available on the District Attorney's office website at www. <br /> mass.gov/da/cape. <br /> (Published: February 13, 2006) <br /> i - <br /> Bach to Cape CodTimes <br /> About us I Advertise <br /> cape cod online I capeweek I Primetime I on cape f cape cod times J classifieds <br /> Copyright @ 2005 Caps Cod Times.All rights reserved. <br /> http:llww ..capecodonline,comispecialledagendaWogokeefe 1 .htm(2 of 2)3/812007 5:38:55 F <br />