Dozens Turn Out For Open Meeting Law Training in Sandwich

CCB MEDIA PHOTO Jonathan Sclarsic, Assistant Attorney General Division of Open Government, talks to more than 60 people gathered at Sandwich Town Hall for training in adhering to the Open Meeting Law.

CCB MEDIA PHOTO
Jonathan Sclarsic, Assistant Attorney General Division of Open Government, talks to more than 60 people gathered at Sandwich Town Hall for training in adhering to the Open Meeting Law.

SANDWICH – More than 60 people turned out for a refresher course on the Open Meeting Law presented by staff from the Attorney General’s office at Sandwich Town Hall last night.

Many of the attendees are members of boards, commissions and committees and they presented dozens of questions to the presenters asking for clarification about the Open Meeting Law on matters from executive sessions to meeting minutes to responding to complaints.

Among the attendees were Sheila Lyons, chairman of the Barnstable County Commissioners, and County Commissioner Leo Cakounes.

Lyons said the session was instructive.

“It clarified a lot of questions for us that we have had, especially on Open Meeting Law complaints and how they’re handled. I think we’ll have to change some of that. Just clarification on the role of the chair. I thought that was helpful,” she said.

Lyons said that the fact that she and Cakounes, two of the three members of the commission, were attending the training, meant that they posted the meeting.

Trainings are among the exceptions to the Open Meeting Law where a quorum of a committee can attend as long as they do not discuss any business of the committee.

Attorney General staff advised those gathered that extensive guidance on the Open Meeting Law can be found on the Attorney General’s Open Meeting Law website at mass.gov/ago/open meeting.

By LAURA M. RECKFORD, CapeCod.com News Editor

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