tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103751892008-03-24T19:58:56.315-04:00Robert AmbrogiBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-8587763926991558302008-03-24T19:57:00.002-04:002008-03-24T19:58:56.343-04:00

From the March 23 Cape Cod Times, Sunshine law could see brighter days:"When someone complains that a local official has violated the state's Open Meeting Law, it's up to the district attorney to investigate. "That leads to different interpretations of the law all over the state, and there is a lack of enforcement provisions built in, said Robert Ambrogi, executive director of the Massachusetts

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-81816504824326484482008-03-20T16:46:00.002-04:002008-03-20T16:47:37.993-04:00

The town of Charlton's ad hoc Water Search Subcommittee violated the Massachusetts open meeting law when it met in a series of unposted meetings, the Worcester District Attorney's Office has ruled. According to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, the meetings came to light after the newspaper filed a public records request for the subcommittee's minutes. Upon learning of the illegal meetings, the

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-3108478460698708462008-03-20T16:40:00.002-04:002008-03-20T16:41:43.830-04:00

Part 4 of The Republican's Sunshine Week series: Public records allow scrutiny: "It happens all the time. "The tenants complain about conditions in their apartment, a city inspection follows, and a notice of violations is mailed to the property owner demanding compliance. "Landlord Anthony Ping Zuo, of the affluent suburb of Weston, however, found himself under the added scrutiny of The

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-28676947361758282122008-03-19T22:51:00.004-04:002008-03-20T16:37:50.708-04:00

From the Brookline Tab: Brookline passes public records test, but response reveals bookkeeping lapse""On a test of public records law compliance, Brookline passed with flying colors. "But the test revealed something as well: The town has been paying for a cell phone Town Administrator Richard Kelliher hasn’t used in years."Read the full story.

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-36118327211849239922008-03-18T15:00:00.003-04:002008-03-18T15:03:43.326-04:00

This was the front-page article on Sunday's Cape Cod Times: Political candidates have spotty voting records:"Raymond Hall may ask Dennis residents to do something May 13 that he rarely does -- vote. "Hall is one of three people who have taken out nomination papers to run for selectman. A review of state election records indicate that the last and only Dennis election Hall voted in was in 2004,

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-85198948767510445932008-03-18T14:48:00.003-04:002008-03-18T14:54:34.311-04:00

Two Sunshine Week graphics from the pages of this week's Cape Cod Times (PDF): Your Right to Records and How to Get Them. Top Secret, a graphical page that ran in place of the paper's typical editorial page.

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-51423631276004726462008-03-18T14:38:00.002-04:002008-03-18T14:45:12.409-04:00

From the Cape Cod Times: Governor says e-mails off-limits: Gov. Deval Patrick holds the most conspicuous job in state government, but his records are above public inspection. While the state's Public Records Law does not expressly exempt the governor's papers from outside scrutiny, as it does those of the Legislature or the judiciary, recent chief executives have taken solace in a 1997 Supreme

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-67154314505288701352008-03-18T14:36:00.002-04:002008-03-18T14:41:16.126-04:00

From yesterday's Cape Cod Times: Let the sunshine in: "This is the beginning of Sunshine Week. We're not talking weather. We're referring to the state and federal climate related to open government. In both cases, it's mighty chilly. "In Massachusetts, the cradle of democracy, the current open meeting law is one of the most restrictive in the nation. It gives boards of selectmen and other

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-69800763376162048492008-03-18T14:25:00.002-04:002008-03-18T14:26:20.693-04:00

The third in The Republican's Sunshine Week series: Towns develop online presence."Brimfield residents can learn plenty about their town's volunteer fire department by going online to www.brimfieldfd.org, but they won't find a Web site to keep them up to date on how their town government operates. "That could change soon. The Board of Selectmen is moving, cautiously, toward getting a town

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-14831394242407584932008-03-17T16:32:00.002-04:002008-03-17T16:33:25.218-04:00

From today's Metrowest Daily News: Investigation reveals obstacles to getting information: "The IRS has arguably the most famous and feared deadline in the United States. "But when it comes to deadlines for Freedom of Information Act requests, the tax agency isn't nearly so demanding of itself. "'I apologize for any inconvenience my delay may cause,' wrote the tax agency, as it explained why

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-4022601434590490192008-03-17T14:35:00.003-04:002008-03-17T14:37:24.029-04:00

From The Republican today: Web site established to educate voters: "It's not easy being an open book. "But that's exactly what organizers and volunteers with Project Vote Smart intend to do with information about the nation's elected officials and office seekers. From biographies to issue stances, the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization combines it all in one vast database for free and on the

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-65910042301027957232008-03-17T14:33:00.003-04:002008-03-17T14:44:05.021-04:00

State Rep. Stephen Kulik, sponsor of the MNPA's open meeting reform bill (HB 3217), has this op-ed in The Republican: An open meeting law for the 21st century.

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-38459299705075462122008-03-17T12:16:00.002-04:002008-03-17T12:17:56.811-04:00

From The Republican yesterday: Meetings law due for overhaul: "The Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association collected nearly 300 pages of clips from 2006 about constant and sometimes repeated violations of the law around the state. "In one of the most egrigious cases, the Boston City Council was fined $11,000 in 2006 by a Superior Court judge for repeated violations of the law spanning

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-66437833896931907862008-03-17T12:11:00.003-04:002008-03-17T12:13:46.985-04:00

The Brockton Enterprise: Sunshine law hits clouds in Brockton: "A request for city cell phone records has been met with a busy signal at City Hall. "'Got a million things going on, working on your info,' Mayor James E. Harrington’s chief of staff, Donna Daley wrote in a March 6 email. "The Enterprise sought two sets of public records in conjunction with Sunshine Week, a nationwide initiative

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-90751679321541204092008-03-17T12:03:00.002-04:002008-03-17T12:08:12.004-04:00

From The Sun Chronicle: A trend or an aberration of Open Meeting Law?:"It may be cold and gray outside, but journalists across the country are celebrating National Sunshine Week in an effort to remind readers about the importance of open government and access to information. "The issue of open government has been particularly marked in the area this year, with The Sun Chronicle seeking

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-22446437687630378312008-01-31T21:08:00.000-05:002008-01-31T21:08:29.266-05:00

Selectman in Sharon violated the state's Open Meeting Law dozens of times by meeting in closed session to discuss a proposed senior living community, the Norfolk County District Attorney has concluded. Here is a report on the findings published by Wicked Local Sharon and here is a link to the DA's Jan. 24 letter.

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-20897624559244857902007-11-30T19:05:00.000-05:002008-01-28T17:07:04.439-05:00

From reporter Dan Ring at The Republican: "BOSTON - The state's courts are benefiting from a revolutionary overhaul in management, with cases getting cleared more quickly and judges sticking to trial schedules, the chief justice of the state's highest court said yesterday. "In a speech to leaders of the state's newspaper industry, Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall linked

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-71152465674964793542007-11-12T17:19:00.000-05:002007-11-12T17:34:13.755-05:00

The annual meeting of the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association is scheduled for Nov. 29, 2007, at Anthony's Pier Four in Boston. This year's featured luncheon speaker is Margaret H. Marshall, chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, who will speak on courts and the news media and take questions from the audience. A morning panel will focus on legislative proposals to reform the

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-83225325647355000362007-03-14T18:23:00.000-04:002007-03-14T18:23:25.472-04:00

Reporter Mary Carey writes in the Amherst Bulletin that the town may establish fines for members of local boards who violate the open meeting law. The state law imposes no such fines on individual board members. A bill promoted by the MNPA would authorize courts to impose such fines. Carey writes:"Town Meeting member Larry Kelley said Amherst should establish its own fines -- $50 for a first

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-20404823810479753442007-03-12T22:46:00.000-04:002007-03-12T22:46:11.066-04:00

The Republican: Open meeting battle rages on: "Testing the limits of the state Open Meeting Law has practically been a hobby for public officials since the right-to-know legislation was rolled out three decades ago."

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-24202300343137571032007-03-11T17:56:00.001-04:002007-03-11T17:59:02.084-04:00

It is Sunshine Week. Here is some of the coverage so far by Massachusetts newspapers: Fight for truth being fought dailyPlenty of Sunshine Healthy for DemocracySunshine Week spotlights public access, involvementCongress exempt from access lawMunicipal Web Sites are ClickingEditorial: Government in the DarkA Government Truly of PeopleYour Right to KnowToo Much Secrecy

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-36160478279552334362007-01-15T11:28:00.000-05:002007-01-15T11:42:33.146-05:00

South Deerfield Rep. Stephen Kulik has filed an MNPA-backed bill to strengthen the enforcement provisions of the state's open meeting laws. The bill, which has been docketed as HD 2937, would authorize courts to impose civil fines of $500 on government officials who violate the law and to award attorneys' fees to citizens who bring actions to enforce the law. Other legislators who have so far

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-46757657558650650212007-01-15T11:10:00.000-05:002007-01-15T11:23:34.453-05:00

At its recent annual meeting, the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association elected Larry A. McDermott to a two-year term as president, effective Jan. 1. McDermott is publisher and CEO of The Republican, a daily regional newspaper covering most of Western Massachusetts. He was named publisher in January 1999 after serving as editor for eight years. Also elected to two-year terms as

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-6975220436394056912006-11-30T16:08:00.000-05:002006-11-30T16:19:25.235-05:00

Gov-elect Deval Patrick addressed the annual luncheon meeting of the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association today. As Associated Press reports, Patrick urged attendees to "put your cynicism aside" and embrace the hopefulness expressed by voters in the recent gubernatorial election. At left, Patrick dines with MNPA officers before speaking. With him are Larry A. McDermott, incoming

Robert Ambrogitag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10375189.post-40436847626579979732006-11-09T17:18:00.000-05:002006-11-09T17:45:56.085-05:00

The annual meeting of the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association will be held Nov. 30 at Anthony's Pier 4 in Boston. The day begins with the business meeting at 10 a.m., followed by a panel discussion at 11, reception at noon and luncheon at 12:30. Once we receive confirmation from our invited speakers, more information will be posted. If you have not received a registration form,

Robert Ambrogi