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Trustee Information

Open Door Law

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THE PURPOSE OF THE OPEN DOOR LAW

  • What is the purpose of the Open Door Law?
  • Are all governmental agencies required to comply with the Open Door Law when meeting?
  • What are the governmental agencies responsibilities under the the Open Door Law?
  • What rights are provided to the public under the Open Door Law?

 

MEETINGS SUBJECT TO THE OPEN DOOR LAW

  • According to the Open Door Law, can you tell us the definition of a "meeting"?
  • Is there any time when a gathering of Board Members would not be considered a meeting?
  • Many Library Boards like to assign work to a special committee. Are Board Committees, such as budget, policy or technology committees, required to follow the Open Door Law?
  • Is the Board secretary required to prepare minutes of meetings?

 

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS

  • What are the requirements for notifying the public of Library Board meetings?
  • Are there any special requirements for notifying the media?
  • Does the Library Board have to publish an agenda?

 

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

  • By definition, what is an Executive Session?
  • What type of notice must be provided for an Executive Session?
  • For what reasons may an Executive Session be held-For instance, is it possible to interview prospective staff persons in Executive Session?
  • Is the Board secretary required to prepare minutes of Executive Sessions?

 

EMERGENCY MEETINGS

  • Under what circumstances, can an emergency meeting be held?
  • What kind of notice must be given to the public and the media?
  • Can we hold an emergency Executive Session?

 

USE OF TECHNOLOGY

  • Can local library board members participate in a meeting by telephone or by using videoconferencing equipment?
  • In order to prepare accurate Board minutes, Board secretaries sometimes like to tape record meetings. Are those tapes a matter of public record and do they need to be kept for any length of time?
  • Sometimes, the quickest way a Library Director can share information with a Board is via e-mail? Is that information also viewed as a matter of public record? And does it need to be archived?

 

VIOLATIONS AND REMEDIES UNDER THE OPEN DOOR LAW

  • If someone believes that the Board has violated the Open Door Law, what can that person do?
  • If a complaint is filed with the Public Access Counselor, what does that mean to the Library Board?
  • If an action is filed in court, what kinds of remedies are there, if the court finds that there was indeed a violation of the Open Door Law?