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Open Meeting Law

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

The Massachusetts “Open Meeting Law” was enacted in 1975.  Since that time many questions have arisen as to the nature and scope of the Law as well as its application to a particular set of circumstances.  Consequently, citizens, citizen groups, and members of the news media have often inquired about the propriety of action by individual governmental bodies.  Many local officials have also voiced concern as to whether or not certain conduct violates the Law.

The Law mandates the District Attorney’s Office to act on Open Meeting Law complaints.  Since it has been apparent that in many situations conflict has arisen out of a lack of understanding of the Law by one or both sides involved, my office has prepared this “Guide to the Open Meeting Law”.

It is my hope that this guide will provide a working knowledge of the Open Meeting Law and will prevent most violations from ever occurring.

Further, if after consulting this guide, there remains any confusion regarding the requirements of this Statute, I encourage you to contact my office for additional information.

For more information, contact Thomas Shack in the District Attorney's Office at the number above.