Neronha Files Lawsuit Against Woonsocket City Council for Violating Open Meetings Act
Saturday, December 21, 2019
Attorney General Peter Neronha has filed a lawsuit against the Woonsocket City Council alleging that they willfully or knowingly violated the Rhode Island Open Meetings Act (OMA).
“Openness and transparency are critical for our government institutions and public bodies to function in a way that effectively serves the best interests of the public. We will take action to ensure compliance with the requirements of our open government laws,” said Neronha.
The lawsuit requests a court order, preventing the City Council from using an improper agenda item, and civil penalties.
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The Lawsuit
According to the Attorney General’s office, Friday’s lawsuit comes after the Office found that the City Council had violated the OMA at its July 1, 2019, August 5, 2019, and October 7, 2019 meetings when the agenda item that was used, “Good and Welfare,” did not specify the nature of the business to be discussed.
Neronha's office previously found that the City Council’s use of the same “Good and Welfare” agenda item to discuss several different issues violated the OMA because it lacked any identifying information concerning the nature of the business to be discussed.
At that time, the Office of the Attorney General warned the City Council that the finding served as notice that the use of the “Good and Welfare” agenda item was unlawful and that the finding may serve as evidence of a willful or a knowing violation in any similar future situation.
The Office was also presented with evidence that the City Council’s former solicitor had warned the City Council that discussing various issues under such a broad agenda item violated the OMA.
Earlier in 2019, the Office found that the City Council violated this exact same provision of the OMA when it discussed various public matters under a similarly vague agenda item.
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