What's New In Open Government...

A continuing series linking to reports and stories on the web about open government issues around Massachusetts. The following are stories about open government issues that appeared during the last half of January 2009:

Streaming videos put government in modern light
Jan. 22, 2009, The Boston Globe, Rachel Lebeaux

Aarticle about Franklin posting videos of meetings on town website. (Okay- full disclosure- I am quoted in it. BTW, my official status with Common Cause Massachusetts is as a volunteer member of the governing board.)

Says T&G is right in dispute with WPD
Jan. 25, 2009, Worcester Telegram and Gazette, Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor from Ron Madnick, Director, Worcester County Chapter of the ACLU of Massachusetts weighing in on the public records dispute between the Worcester T&G and the Worcester Police Department .

Exit DiMasi
Jan. 27, 2009, Worcester Telegram and Gazette, Editorial

Among other things, calling on the legislature, which exempted itself from the public records law and the open meeting law., to let more sunshine into its proceedings.

DeLeo’s Turn Veteran Pol Must Show He’s Serious About Reform
Jan. 28, 2009, Worcester Telegram and Gazette, Editorial

“A critical flaw in legislative governance is the lack of transparency. Because the Legislature has exempted itself from the state’s Open Meeting Law and many of the provisions of laws pertaining to public records — and much of the decision-making takes place behind closed doors — it is hard for average citizens and even rank-and-file lawmakers to keep tabs on the process.”

Around Town: Select board Members Back From Conference With Spate of New Ideas
Jan. 30, 2009, Amherst Bulletin, Scott Merzbach

Mentions open meeting law training Amherst Select Board members received at MMA conference: “At the Open Meeting Law seminar, O'Keeffe said she was advised that informal subcommittees, even ones without a majority of the main board present, should be treated just like other meetings.”