02/25/2019 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Agenda Packet

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Description of alleged violation: Describe the alleged violation that this complaint is about.if you believe the alleged violation was intentional,please say so and include the reasons supporting your belief. Note:This text field has a maximum of 3000 characters. Relative to their meetings conducted on February 11,201'9,the Town of Mashpee Board of Selectmen violated the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law by posting an insufficiently specific meeting notice because said notice did not include the street address ofthe venue and/or location where the meeting took place. See OML 2016-38, The Open Meeting Law requires a public body to post a meeting notice 48 hours in advance of a meeting and include,"the date,time and place of such meeting and a listing of topics that the chair reasonably anticipates will be discussed at the meeting." G.L.c.30A,sec.20(b).Public bodies are required to list topics in a meeting notice with"sufficient specificity to reasonably advise the public of the issues to be discussed at the meeting,"940 CMR 29.03.A topic is generally considered to be sufficiently specific when a reasonable member ofthe public could read the topic and understand what the nature ofthe public body discussion will be.See OML 2011-7. Moreover,in general,a public body must provide the street address of the meeting location.See OML 2015-133. Additionally,the Board of selectmen violated the Open Meeting Law by failing to review Executive Session minutes for public release on a regular basis as required by the OML. Open,transparent and accountable government is of paramount importance.When a public body violates the Open Meeting Law as outlined above, it is detrimental to the public interest and a breach ofthe public trust. What action do you want the public body to take in response to your complaints' Note:This text field has a maximum of 500 characters. In a timely fashion,the public body should take immediate remedial action via seriously addressing and correcting the violations that have been pointed out.It should also take concrete measures to ensure that the stated OML violations do not occur again. Finally,all members of the public body and its staff should be mandated to undergo verifiable Open Meeting Law training within sixty(60)days. Review,sign,and submit your complaint I. Disclosure of Your Complaint. Public Record.Undermost circumstances,your complaint,and any documents submitted with your complaint,is considered a public record and will be available to any member of the public upon request. Publication to Website.As part of the Open Data Initiative,the AGO will publish to its website certain information regarding your complaint, including your name and the name of the public body. The AGO will not publish your contact information. ll. Consulting With a Private Attorney. The AGO cannot give you legal advice and is notable to be your private attorney,but represents the public interest. If you have any questions concerning your individual legal rights or responsibilities you should contact a private attorney. Ill, Submit Your Complaint to the Public Body. The complaint must be filed first with the public body. If you have any questions,please contact the Division of Open Government by calling (617)963-2540 or by email to openmeeting@state.ma.us. By signing below,I acknowledge that I have read and understood the provisions above and certify that the information I have provided is true and correct toe best o knowle Signed Date: 02- ) l ZC7 For Use ByPublic So For Use ByAGO Page 2 Date Received by Public Body: Date Received byAGO.