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Open Meetings Act |
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Closed meetings Before closing a meeting that is subject to the Act (not an executive function, for example), the public body must vote to do so in an open session. The presiding officer must ensure that a written statement is prepared citing the reason or reasons for closing the meeting and citing the specific provisions in the Open Meetings Act that allow the meeting to be closed. The statement must also include a description of what will be covered in the closed meeting. While public bodies have considerable leeway in this area and are not required to divulge sensitive information, they must do more than simply parrot the exemption cited in the statement. Minutes must be kept of closed meetings, as well as open meetings, and those minutes must be maintained for a year. Additionally, the next open meeting minutes must include a statement of time, place and purpose of the previous closed meeting, a record of how members voted on the motion to close the meeting, the authority under the Act saying why the meeting was closed and a list of the topics discussed, who was present and any action taken.
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