What's New In Open Government...

A continuing series linking to reports and stories about open government issues around Massachusetts. I was in Washington, D.C., for about a week to attend the inauguration and visit with friends. I have been trying to catch up ever since. The following are listings posted to the web from the end of December 2008 until mid January 2009:

ACLU calling for B-R recruiting records
Dec. 26, 2008, Gate House News Service, Susan Parkou Weinstein

Article about ACLU’s attempt to obtain records from the local school committee relating to military recruiters’ access to Bridgewater Raynham high school students and the difficulty it has had.

Massport holds its cards close
Jan. 4, 2009, The Boston Globe, Nosh Berman

Includes discussion about frequent executive sessions by Massport Board.

Internet Tools For E-democracy In Urban Planning
(source:goodspeedupdate.com)
Jan. 7, 2009, Open-source wonen

References Common Cause Massachusetts Campaign for Open Government.

Council sends right message on ‘executive session’ leaks
Jan. 8, 2009, Worcester Telegram and Gazette, Editorial Footnote

Commenting that the Worcester City Council correctly passed rule that would refer to the State Ethics Commission any cases in which an official is found to have leaked information discussed in an executive session.

Public or private? Meeting-notice shifts led to 2nd School Committee retreat
Jan. 10, 2009, YourArlington.com, Bob Sprague

Article about attempts to keep an Arlington school committee retreat private.
Maybe the best thing would be to recognize that most meetings of a public body should be public.

Fleury's posts filled in Pelham
Jan. 16, 2009, Amherst Bulletin, Mary Carey

Example of use of exemption to go into executive session.

Middleboro: Home of Mushroom Farming
Jan. 18, 2009, Middleboro Review Blog

Musings about town website and public records. “Just when you think Middleboro might be moving forward, making progress and moving into the appropriate century, you realize that the dinosaurs have prevailed!”

ACLU Public Records Request Still Unanswered, State Sends Second Letter to City Seeking Explanation
Jan. 21, 2009, Worcester Independent Media Center blog

Posting about City Manager’s apparent failure to respond to a public records request by the Worcester ACLU.