Editorial: Bring open meeting bill to the floor

An editorial in today’s New Bedford Standard-Times calls for legislative action on a bill to reform the state’s Open Meeting Law. The bill, crafted by Rep. Antonio F.D. Cabral, D-New Bedford, is based on a package of bills originally filed by the MNPA. The editorial says:

“The primary beneficiary of the Cabral bill is the ordinary citizen who relies on open government to be sure that taxpayer money is well spent by elected and appointed officials. Citizens who would like to see this reform bill become law should contact their local legislator and Rep. DeLeo, the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, to push for action this session.”

More of Sunshine Week coverage

More of Sunshine Week coverage by Massachusetts newspapers:

See also:

MNPA Endorses Shield Bill

The Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association has voted to endorse the Massachusetts Free Flow of Information Act. The bill (Senate Docket 2406) would protect members of the news media in Massachusetts from being compelled to reveal sources, notes and other materials used in their reporting.

MNPA President Kay Berenson, publisher of The Recorder newspaper in Greenfield, said, “This bill is about recognizing and protecting the vital role journalists play in protecting the public’s access to the truth about government, corporations and other important institutions. I encourage legislators to pass it.”

Senate President Robert E. Travaglini submitted the bill in October. It was drafted by an ad hoc committee of news media representatives chaired by Charles J. Kravetz, vice president of news at NECN. MNPA members who served on the committee were Alfred S. Larkin Jr., executive vice president of The Boston Globe, Larry A. McDermott, publisher of The Republican, and Robert J. Ambrogi, MNPA executive director.

Rep. Cabral proposes open meeting reforms

Based on bills proposed by the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Associaton, state Rep. Antonio F.D. Cabral (D-New Bedford), chairman of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, yesterday unveiled major legislation to reform Massachusetts’ open meeting law. “Today, in an age of government spying, secret wiretapping and increasing government secrecy, we must renew our commitment to openness,” Rep Cabral said.

The reform legislation has five main initiatives:

– It would strengthen the language of the open meeting law to include current communication technology. Real-time electronic communication between government bodies would be subject to the same rules as meetings held in person.

– It would create an Open Meeting Law Board to oversee complaints and violations of the open meeting law and oversee a new Office of Government Accountability, housed in the Office of the Attorney General, to provide increased resources to investigating violations.

– For the first time in this state, it would impose civil fines on individual members of boards who violate the law.

– Boards subject to the open meeting law would be required to post meeting agendas as part of required meeting notices.

– It would close some exceptions to the current law which allow for closed executive sessions.

The bill, based on legislation filed last year by the MNPA, has not been assigned a number.

Day Two: Sunshine Week coverage in Mass.

More Sunshine Week coverage from Massachusetts newspapers:

See also: Round-up of Sunshine Week coverage.

Open Meeting Law changes eyed

From today’s MetroWest Daily News:

“Some reforms backed by newspaper advocates intended to thwart local and state boards from going behind closed doors to decide public matters may get a boost from lawmakers.

“The co-chairman of a legislative committee is pushing a bill to overhaul the state Open Meeting Law for the first time in three decades. The law was designed to make sure most meetings of governmental boards and committees are open to the public, with just a few specific exemptions.”

Round-up of Sunshine Week coverage


Today marks the start of Sunshine Week and several Massachusetts newspapers marked the day with reporting and opinion:

Schools’ secret session notes under wraps

From the Sentinel & Enterprise:

Schools’ Secret Session Notes Under Wraps

“By Kyle Alspach

“FITCHBURG — The School Committee met in secret sessions eight times in 2005, but has yet to release any records of those meetings to the public.

“The Massachusetts Open Meeting Law allows public boards to meet privately about some issues.

“But the records may only remain secret as long as ‘publication may defeat the lawful purposes’ of the session, according to the law.”

[Read more.]