Work continues on open meeting rules

Almost a year after the attorney general’s office gained jurisdiction over the state’s open meeting law, the office continues to issue regulations and make determinations based on complaints the office has received.

To date, the Division of Open Government has made 19 determinations in response to complaints, with 67 pending. The office has also answered more than 2,000 inquiries.

The two largest issues still before the division are the definition of a public body and “remote participation” (the use of phone or Internet-related technologies to participate in a public meeting). The division has gathered public comment on both topics and is considering policies, but it has not made a ruling on either issue.

The attorney general’s office recently completed a series of seven open meeting law training sessions in communities across the state. The office reports that an average of about 60 local officials attended each session.

For more information on the open meeting law, visit www.mass.gov/ago/openmeeting.