Press Release  Attorney General’s Office to Hold Open Meeting Law Trainings Throughout the State

Boston — In an effort to better inform the public and government officials about the Open Meeting Law and its requirements, Attorney General Maura Healey’s Office will hold five free trainings on the law throughout the state this fall. The AG’s Office will also offer live web-based trainings on the law.

The trainings are part of a broad effort by the AG’s Office to assist public bodies and members of the public in understanding and complying with the requirements of the state’s Open Meeting Law. State, local, regional, and county public bodies are required to comply with the Open Meeting Law.

Fall 2018 regional educational forums will be held on the following dates:

Natick
Wednesday, September 12
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Morse Institute Library – Lebowitz Room
14 E. Central Street, Natick

Orange
Monday, September 24
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Orange Armory
135 East Main Street, Orange

Winchester
Wednesday, October 10
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Town Hall – Winchester Room, First Floor
71 Mount Vernon Street, Winchester

Spencer
Thursday, October 18
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Spencer Memorial Town Hall – Great Hall
157 Main Street, Spencer

Harvard
Thursday, November 15
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Bromfield School – Cronin Auditorium
14 Massachusetts Avenue, Harvard

The Open Meeting Law trainings will be conducted by attorneys from AG Healey’s Division of Open Government, are open to the public, and are being offered free of charge.

All members of public bodies, municipal employees, and members of the general public are encouraged to attend. Individuals interested in attending an educational forum are asked to register in advance by calling 617-963-2925 or by emailing OMLTraining@state.ma.us, and providing: 1) their first and last names; 2) town of residence; 3) the public body/organization they represent, if applicable; and 4) the location of the educational forum they will attend.

The AG’s Office is also conducting online webinars on Thursday, September 20 from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and Tuesday, October 16 from 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Attendees can participate entirely online and will be able to submit written questions during the training and receive real-time responses from Division attorneys. Those interested in registering or receiving additional information about the webinar may do so by emailing OMLTraining@state.ma.us.

Since assuming responsibility for enforcement of the Open Meeting Law at all levels of government in July 2010, the AG’s Division of Open Government has responded to more than 13,000 telephone and email inquiries from members of public bodies, municipal counsel, and the public. The Division has also conducted 50 regional trainings across the state, 25 webinars, and issued more than 1,100 written determinations.

For more information on the Open Meeting Law, visit the Attorney General's website.

Media are welcome to attend.

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