EXECUTIVE SESSION MUST BE LISTED ON SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE

19 May EXECUTIVE SESSION MUST BE LISTED ON SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE

May 19, 2022

Request:  Did the Williston Parks & Recreation District Board violate the open meetings laws by improperly noticing an executive session and by not providing specific notice of a meeting?

Conclusion: The Board held a special meeting. The notice listed the date, time and location of the meeting and one agenda item. The notice did not state that discussions of the agenda item were expected to be held in an executive session. Executive sessions must be specifically listed in a special meeting agenda and failure to do so violates the open meetings law. The Board must redraft the meeting notice and, upon request, provide the redrafted notice and minutes, and any notes or recordings of the special meeting, at no charge. The Board cannot establish that it received any request to receive specific notice of its meetings so there was no violation.

Opinion 2022-O-06