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

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 six free trainings on the law throughout the state this spring. The AG’s Office will also offer live web-based trainings on the law.

This training is 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.

Spring 2017 regional educational forums will be held on the following dates:

Fall River

Tuesday, March 7

6:00PM-7:30PM

Fall River City Council Chamber

One Government Center, Fall River

Gloucester

Tuesday, March 21

6:00PM-7:30PM

Gloucester City Hall, Kyrouz Auditorium

9 Dale Avenue, Gloucester

Lawrence

Wednesday, April 5

6:30PM-8:00PM

Lawrence Public Library, Sargent Auditorium

51 Lawrence Street, Lawrence

Stoughton

Tuesday, April 25

6:00PM-7:30PM

Stoughton Town Hall, Great Hall

10 Pearl Street, Stoughton

Orleans

Tuesday, May 16

5:30PM-7:00PM

Nauset Regional Middle School Auditorium

70 Route 28, Orleans

Holyoke

Tuesday, May 30

6:00PM-7:30PM

Holyoke Senior Center

291 Pine Street, Holyoke

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 appropriate; and 4) the location of the educational forum they will attend.

The AG’s Office is also conducting online webinars on Tuesday, March 14 from 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 12 from 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, May 10 from 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.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 11,000 telephone and email inquiries from members of public bodies, municipal counsel, and the public. The Division has also conducted 35 regional trainings across the state, 12 webinars, and issued more than 900 written determinations.

For more information on the Open Meeting Law, visit the Attorney General's website at www.mass.gov/ago/openmeeting.

Media are welcome to attend.

###