Open Meeting Law

"The purpose of the Open Meeting Law is to ensure transparency in the deliberations on which public policy is based. Because the democratic process depends on the public having knowledge about the considerations underlying governmental action, the Open meeting Law requires, with some exceptions, that meetings of public bodies be open to the public. It also seeks to balance the public's interest in witnessing the deliberations of public officials with the government's need to manage its operations efficiently."

This quote is the first paragraph of the Open Meeting Law Guide provided by Attorney General Maura Healey which is meant as a tool for municipal employees. The Open Meeting Law is fundamental to a democratic process because it ensures public access to the operation of government. The Town Clerk's office plays a vital role in maintaining observance of the principles of the Open Meeting Law. Massachusetts law requires all meetings of any governmental body to be filed with the Town Clerk and publicly posted at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays) prior to the meeting being held.

The Town Clerk's Office provides each new member of a board or committee with a copy of the Open Meeting Law Guide from the Attorney General's office along with a copy of the Conflict of interest Law. A copy of the Open Meeting Law Guide is available by clicking the following link:

• Massachusetts Open Meeting Law

All Town committees are required to follow the Open Meeting Law, M.G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25 (Effective July 1, 2015) and 940 CMR 29.00. Open Meetings For more information please visit the official Open Meeting Law website.

Open Meeting Law Quick Facts

• 48 Hour Notice is required. All public bodies (i.e. Committees, Boards, subcommittees) are required to post a meeting or work session notice and agenda 48 hours before holding a meeting. The 48 hour time period does not include Saturdays, Sundays or legal Holidays.
• Meeting notices must include committee name, location, date, time and agenda.
• Notices must include an agenda or list of topics anticipated to be discussed at the meeting. Common meeting practices such as taking roll call or adjourning the meeting do not need to be posted on the notice but any deliberations or discussion topics should be.
• The items listed as the agenda are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair, which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.
• ALL Meeting notices are to be filed with the Town Clerk’s office.
• OFFICIAL MEETING POSTINGS - TOWN WEBSITE:  Effective January 1, 2019, the official meeting postings for public bodies is the Town of Lakeville's website (www.lakevillema.org).  Our municipal website fulfills the meeting notice requirements of the Open Meeting Law.   Original copies of meeting postings will be maintained in a binder in the Town Clerk's Office available for public view during office hours.  Use of the bulletin board outside the Town Hall will be discontinued for public meeting postings.
• Official minutes must contain detailed information: names of members, summaries of matters discussed, a list of documents used and all decisions made and the actions taken, including a record of all votes (yeas, nays and abstentions). Documents and other exhibits (i.e. maps, photos) need to be kept as part of the official record of the session.
• Minutes of all open and executive sessions shall be and approved in a timely manner.  A "timely manner" will be generally be considered to be within the next three (3) public body meetings or within 30 days, whichever is later, unless the public body can show good cause for further delay.  The minutes of an open session, if they exist and whether approved or in draft form, shall be available upon request by any person within "10 days".  MGL c30A,s22(c),(G2).
• Citizens making complaints of Open Meeting Law violations must file written complaints with the public body first within 30 days of the violation. Then the body submits reply to complainant and Attorney General’s Office.

PLEASE NOTE: ANY PUBLIC MEETING NOTICES ON THE TOWN WEBSITE ARE NOT PROBABLY FILED UNLESS FIRST FILED WITH THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE AND POSTED PROPERLY ON THE MEETING CALENDAR BY THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE.

Filing a Complaint

If you believe that a state, county or municipal employee has violated the open meeting law, you can file a complaint with the Attorney General's office. Information on the complaint process can be found here.

Attorney General's Office Contact Information

The Attorney General's office is responsible for reviewing any concerns regarding potential Open Meeting Law violations. To contact the Attorney General's Office or to obtain additional information on the open meeting law, go to www.mass.gov/ago/ or you may contact them at:

REGULATIONS, GUIDES AND FORMS

• Open Meeting Law Guide (Updated December 2023)
• The Open Meeting Law, G.L.C.30A,§§18-25
• The Attorney Generals' Regulations, 940 CMR 29.00-29.11
• Certificate of Receipt of Open Meeting Law Materials
• Open Meeting Law Complaint Form
• Public Body Checklist for Posting a Meeting Notice (AG 9/25/2017)
• Public Body Checklist for Creating and Approving Meeting Minutes (AG 9/25/2017)
• Public Body Checklist for Entering into Executive Session (AG 3/12/2013)

Helpful Links:

• The Open Meeting Law website
• Open Meeting Law FAQs
• MA Open Meeting Law Guide
• Attorney General's Website