Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics Laws Archives - Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA)

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics Laws

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First Amendment Audits: How to Keep Calm and Respond

First Amendment Audits: How to Keep Calm and Respond

During an MMA webinar, attorney Lauren Goldberg gave nearly 900 municipal officials tips to prepare for and handle “First Amendment audits.” Municipalities are increasingly subjected to self-annointed “auditors” who record their interactions with public officials and post videos to social media, such as YouTube. “Auditors” see recording and posting these interactions with public officials and…

Municipal Policies and ProceduresWebinarPublication Date: Jan 10, 2023

Massachusetts Statewide Records Retention Schedule

Massachusetts Statewide Records Retention Schedule

Quick Guide Schedule Number 06-18. Updated from the Massachusetts Statewide Agency Records Retention Schedule Database, updated Oct. 31, 2022

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsGuidancepdf - 2 MBPublication Date: Oct 31, 2022

Technology and Staffing Needs for Virtual and Hybrid Public Meetings

Technology and Staffing Needs for Virtual and Hybrid Public Meetings

A Massachusetts Select Board Association webinar discussed the technology and staffing resources required for municipalities to run successful virtual and hybrid meetings.

Municipal OperationsWebinarPublication Date: Jun 15, 2022

Ask the Experts: Open Meeting and Public Records Laws, and Municipal Finance

Ask the Experts: Open Meeting and Public Records Laws, and Municipal Finance

Presented by the Massachusetts Select Board Association

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsWebinarPublication Date: Jul 14, 2021

Open Meeting and Public Records Laws 101

Open Meeting and Public Records Laws 101

Massachusetts Select Board Association’s annual Leadership Conference series

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsWebinarPublication Date: Jul 15, 2020

Common Challenges Faced by Municipal Government

Common Challenges Faced by Municipal Government

Massachusetts Select Board Association’s annual Leadership Conference series

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsWebinarPublication Date: May 20, 2020

Common Challenges Faced by Municipal Government

Common Challenges Faced by Municipal Government

Massachusetts Select Board Association’s Annual Leadership Conference series

Municipal Policies and ProceduresWebinarPublication Date: May 20, 2020

Transparency Basics: Public Records

Transparency Basics: Public Records

Presentation by Kevin Batt, attorney at Anderson Kreiger, at MMA Annual Meeting, Jan. 25, 2020

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsPresentationpdf - 357 KB

Open Meeting Law: Overview and Practical Considerations for Public Entities

Open Meeting Law: Overview and Practical Considerations for Public Entities

Presentation by Lauren Goldberg, a shareholder and managing partner at KP Law, at MMA Annual Meeting, Jan. 25, 2020

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsPresentationpdf - 4 MB

MMA Best Practice Recommendation: Considering Social Media Policies in the Context of the Opening Meeting and Public Records Laws

MMA Best Practice Recommendation: Considering Social Media Policies in the Context of the Opening Meeting and Public Records Laws

Established by MMA Policy Committee on Municipal and Regional Administration, published in MMA Best Practices Series, vol 4, 2019

Community EngagementGuidancepdf - 158 KB

Electronic Records Management Guidelines

Electronic Records Management Guidelines

Provided by the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsGuidancepdf - 96 KB

Open Meeting Law: What is a Meeting and Why Does it Matter Anyway?

Open Meeting Law: What is a Meeting and Why Does it Matter Anyway?

Presentation by KP | Law at MMA Annual Meeting and Trade Show, Ja. 19, 2019

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsPresentationpdf - 1 MB

The Massachusetts Public Records Law

The Massachusetts Public Records Law

Presentation by Angela M. Puccini, attorney for the Public Records Division in the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office at MMA Annual Meeting and Trade Show, Jan. 19, 2019

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsPresentationpdf - 35 MB

Law: SJC Decision Guides Open Meeting Law Compliance

Law: SJC Decision Guides Open Meeting Law Compliance

By Kevin D. Batt, attorney with the firm Anderson & Kreiger, published in the MMA’s Municipal Advocate magazine, Vol. 29, No. 3, 2018

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsArticlepdf - 440 KB

Explanations for the Attorney General's Revisions to the Open Meeting Law Regulations

Explanations for the Attorney General's Revisions to the Open Meeting Law Regulations

From the Attorney General’s Office, September 25, 2017

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsGuidancepdf - 23 KB

To Tweet or Not To Tweet? Social Media, Public Records and the Open Meeting Law

To Tweet or Not To Tweet? Social Media, Public Records and the Open Meeting Law

By Richard T. Holland, article for Municipal Advocate magazine, December 2016

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics LawsArticlepdf - 3 MB

Letter from Attorney General’s Office to Rockport Board of Selectmen to Settle an Open Meeting Law Complaint

Letter from Attorney General’s Office to Rockport Board of Selectmen to Settle an Open Meeting Law Complaint

OML 2015-164, October 27, 2015

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics Lawspdf - 3 MB

Open Meeting Law Guide (2015 update)

Open Meeting Law Guide (2015 update)

Published by the Office of Attorney General Maura Healey, March 18, 2015

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics Lawspdf - 502 KB

Mass Municipal Lawyers Association Open Meeting Law Guide

Mass Municipal Lawyers Association Open Meeting Law Guide

Presentation at 2015 MMA Annual Meeting, January 24, 2015

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics Lawspdf - 3 MB

O’Rourke v. Attorney General of Massachusetts decision

O’Rourke v. Attorney General of Massachusetts decision

Presentation at 2015 MMA Annual Meeting, January 24, 2015

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics Lawspdf - 786 KB

2014 Selected Statutes and Cases

2014 Selected Statutes and Cases

Presentation at 2015 MMA Annual Meeting by Christopher Petrini of the law firm Petrini and Associates, January 24, 2015

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics Lawspdf - 177 KB

Act Further Regulating Town Meeting Notices

Act Further Regulating Town Meeting Notices

Presentation at 2015 MMA Annual Meeting, January 24, 2015

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics Lawspdf - 71 KB

Public Body Checklist for Posting a Meeting Notice

Public Body Checklist for Posting a Meeting Notice

Issued by the Attorney General’s Division of Open Government, March 12, 2013

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics Lawspdf - 249 KB

Public Body Checklist for Creating and Approving Meeting Minutes

Public Body Checklist for Creating and Approving Meeting Minutes

Issued by the Attorney General’s Division of Open Government, March 12, 2013

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics Lawspdf - 157 KB

Open Meeting Law, Collins v. Wayland Board of Selectmen

Open Meeting Law, Collins v. Wayland Board of Selectmen

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics Lawspdf - 462 KB

Public Body Checklist for Entering Into Executive Session

Public Body Checklist for Entering Into Executive Session

Issued by the Attorney General’s Division of Open Government, March 12, 2013

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics Lawspdf - 160 KB

Open Meeting Law and Applications for Tax Abatement or Exemption

Open Meeting Law and Applications for Tax Abatement or Exemption

Q&A from attorney Kevin Batt with the firm Anderson & Kreiger, 2013

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics Lawspdf - 133 KB

Easton Statement of Values

Easton Statement of Values

Town of Easton, Statement of Values of the Board of Selectmen. Used as a handout at the MMA Annual Meeting, January 21st, 2012.

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics Lawspdf - 46 KB

Easton Statement of Ethics

Easton Statement of Ethics

Town of Easton, Statement of Ethics of the Board of Selectmen. Used as a handout at the MMA Annual Meeting, January 21st, 2012.

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics Lawspdf - 67 KB

Regulations governing the open meeting law

Regulations governing the open meeting law

Published by the Office of the Attorney General’s Office, Division of Open Government, October 1, 2010

Open Meeting, Public Records, Ethics Lawspdf - 44 KB