Wayland Board Fined $1,000 for Intentionally Violating Open Meeting Law

WAYLAND, MA—The Wayland Board of Selectmen was fined $1,000 on Friday, July 22, for "intentionally" violating the Open Meeting Law, by Attorney General Maura Healey.

In a decision letter sent to Chairwoman Cherry Carlson from Kevin W. Manganaro, assistant attorney general division of open government, it is indicated that the office received two complaints from George Harris alleging that the Wayland Board of Selectmen (the "Board") violated the Open Meeting Law

In his complaints, Harris alleges that the board failed to approve and release meeting minutes in a timely manner.

Following a review, the AG's office found that the board did violate the law as alleged, and found that "this was an intentional violation of the law."

At issue were the minutes held during December meetings of 2015, as well as January and February meetings of 2016. For these meetings, minutes were approved in April. For bodies that meet regularly, the AG concluded that the delay of two to three months in approving minutes does not comply with the law.

Chair Karlson said that the delay in approving minutes occurred because the board's administrative assistant had a backlog of work because of Town Meeting deadlines.

"We find that the Board's failure to create and approve meeting minutes in a timely
manner was an intentional violation of the Open Meeting Law," said the letter to the board." An intentional violation is an 'act or omission by a public body or a member thereof, in knowing violation of [the Open
Meeting Law.'"

The AG recommended a fine of $1,000 and an order of immediate and future compliance with the Open Meeting Law.