Mandatory Training in Confict-of-Interest and Open Meeting Laws

Here is an idea that should have taken hold a long time ago. As reported in the Boston Globe, the Town of Brookline recently adopted a bylaw that requires all town officials, except School Committee members, elected after September 26, 2006, to have training in the conflict-of- interest and the open meeting laws. The text of the bylaw is below.

What a brilliant idea. Maybe other towns will follow Brookline's example.


ARTICLE 3.20
MANDATORY EDUCATIONAL TRAINING
FOR ALL ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS

3.20.1 APPLICABILITY
This by-law is intended to apply to all elected and
appointed officials (hereinafter collectively referred
to as “Elected and Appointed Officials”) who are
elected or appointed after the effective date of this
by-law. This by-law shall not apply to School
Committee members under any circumstances or Town
Meeting Members unless serving on a Committee as
defined in Section 1.1.4 (c) of these By-Laws, or to
Design Advisory Teams (DAT’s), or to committees formed
in individual schools, however constituted.

3.20.2 MANDATORY EDUCATIONAL TRAINING
All Elected and Appointed Officials shall within one
hundred and twenty (120) days before or after their
election or appointment to a Committee or Subcommittee,
attend an educational training seminar
hosted by the Office of Town Counsel which shall
include the requirements of the Open Meeting Law and
Conflict of Interest Law. In the alternative, members
may meet with Town Counsel, or a member of his/her
staff, to receive such information and training.

3.20.3 NOTICE OF COMPLIANCE
Upon completing the required training, Town Counsel
shall notify the Town Clerk and Town Administrator, in
writing, of the names of those Elected and Appointed
Officials who have completed the training.

3.20.4 NON-COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT
Should an Elected or an Appointed Official fail to
participate in the required training within the
mandatory one hundred and twenty (120) days, the Town
Administrator shall notify in writing the appointing
authority, the appropriate Chairman, and the Town
Clerk of the names of the individuals in non
compliance. It will be within the discretion of the
appointing authority to extend the time of compliance
an additional 30 days. The Town Clerk shall maintain a
Public Record of Compliance and Non-Compliance by
Elected and Appointed Officials, available for viewing
by the Public upon request.