What's New In Open Government...

A continuing series linking to reports and stories about open government issues around Massachusetts. The following are stories about open government issues that appeared from November 24, 2008 to December 7, 2008

Happyland For Lobbyists
Nov. 24, 2008, The Boston Globe, Globe Editorial
Editorial on the work of Governor Patrick’s task force on public integrity. The Editorial states in part,

Even the work of the governor's task force on public integrity can be part of the problem. Its working meetings are closed to the public because the deliberations of an advisory body, voluntarily assembled by the governor, are not subject to the state's open meeting law. Massachusetts is a long way from transparency

9-1-1 Calls Need an Emergency Rescue
Nov. 26, 2008, The New England First Amendment Center Blog, Mary Schwager
A great piece about whether 911 calls are public records. (Full disclosure: I occasionally write for the NEFAC blog and serve on the New England First Amendment Coalition Board.) Mary subsequently posted the response she finally received from the Secretary of State’s office on the issue.

Sad News For the 200 Barnstable Teachers Who Will Eat Their Last Thanksgiving Day Dinner on Cape Cod Today…..
Nov. 27, 2008, COG… Can the Override Group weblog
Posting questions whether the Barnstable Airport Commission is subject to the Public Records Law. According to the post, the Commission has refused to turn over a copy of a lease document to which it is a party.

School Board Lawyer: Fischer Flap Unfounded
Nov. 27, 2008, The Herald News, Will Richmond
Fall River Superintendent of Schools files a Superior Court complaint alleging violation of Open Meeting Law by the School Committee relating to actions concerning the Superintendent’s contract and job performance.

DA Weighs In On Open Meeting Questions
Dec. 1, 2008, Dartmouth Hitching Post weblog
Posting of letter from the Bristol County District Attorneyconcerning whether the Dartmouth Board of Selectmen violated the Open Meeting Law when it went into executive session to discuss expiration of the Town Administrator’s contract. The complaint was filed by the former Town Administrator.

Police To Air Complaints Against Officer
Dec. 2, 2008, Worcester Telegram and Gazette, Thomas Caywood
More on trouble the T&G had in obtaining public records from the Worcester Police Department. Police Department finally releasing records requested in August. Link to story found on Masscops.

Town Manager Evaluations Become Public Record
Dec. 3, 2008, The Billerica Minuteman, Max Bowen
Billerica Board of Selectmen vote to make member evaluations of town manager public records.

State Ethics Chief: Fines 'Not A Meaningful Deterrent Or Penalty'
Dec. 5, 2008, BelmontCitizen-Herald, Kyle Cheney and Jim O’Sullivan, State House News Service.
Report on public hearing of Governor Patrick’s task force on public integrity during which some speakers called for changes to the Open Meeting Law and for open meetings of the task force.

Guilty, Again
Dec. 5, 2008, Nashoba Publishing
Article is half-way down on the web page. According to the piece, the Harvard School Committee has again been found guilty of violating the Open Meeting Law. As the article reports,

This time, a quorum of the committee held an unposted "coffee" to which townspeople were invited to talk about the performance of the school Superintendent. There were no minutes kept. Unbelievably, Chairman Stu Sklar said that since the three members didn't speak to each other, the coffee did not qualify as a government meeting.

The article also mentions a problem the Harvard Board of Selectmen may be having with understanding how the Open Meeting Law applies to the use of emails.

Forum: Panel Hears Proposed Changes To Ethics Law
Dec. 7, 2008, The Eagle-Tribune, Steve LaBlanc
More on the public hearing held by Governor Patrick’s task force on public integrity.

Mass. Engaged In Debate To Toughen Ethics Laws
Dec. 7, 2008, The Boston Globe, Steve LeBlanc
The Globe weighs in on the public hearing held by Governor Patrick’s task force on public integrity. Article mentions testimony by Rep. Jennifer Callahan, D-Sutton, who proposes to make the legislature subject to the Open Meeting Law.