Press Survey
The Providence Journal-Bulletin
January 1, 2000 - September 10, 2001

Open Meetings
Stories relating primarily to local government (town councils, school boards, etc.)

Barrington - AG finds School Committee did not violate the Open Meetings Act 

"School Board cleared of meetings violation," Suzannah Gonzales, Jan 25, 2000

 Burrillville - School Committee: proposals to streamline meetings to violate Open Meetings Law 

"BURRILLVILLE NEWS - School board weighs proposal to shorten its night meetings," Liz Anderson, Apr 13, 2001

 Burrillville - School Committee subcommittees: disagreements about whether open to public 

"Rink policy meetings to be public," Liz Anderson, May 11, 2001

 Burrillville - School Committee charges fellow members violated Open Meetings Law by editing minutes to remove critical comments she made 

"School board member raises free-speech issue," Liz Anderson, Sept 4, 2001

 Charlestown - Conservation Commission did not violate Open Meetings Law, AG rules unofficially 

"Conservation Commission cleared on meetings law," Tiffany Bartish, Mar 13, 2000

 Charlestown - Complaints about Town Council violating Open Meetings Act  

"Town Administrator Barrett fired; says he will sue," Alex Kuffner, Jun 8, 2001
"Council assailed for way it fired administrator," Alex Kuffner, Jun 26, 2001
"South County Letters - Alas, poor Wakefield…," Jul 13, 2001
"Craig quits council; no reason given for decision," Alex Kuffner, Jul 17, 2001
"South County Letters - Back-room politics to the fore," Aug 2, 2001
"4 declare for vacant council seat, Alex Kuffner, Aug 9, 2001

 Cranston - complaints of City Council violating Open Meetings Act 

 "City Council small talk might be meeting-law violation…," Mark Arsenault, June 27, 2001

Cumberland - mayor asserts Town Council violated Open Meetings Law when didn't allow him to be present at a meeting 

 "Gaschen refuses to testify about sales to town," Joanne Marciano, Aug 23, 2000

 Cumberland - Town Council approves hiring firm to do town audit without posting on agenda 48 hours in advance - claims no OML violation  

"Town Council hires a new firm to conduct the town audit," Joanne Marciano, Sept 21, 2000

 E. Greenwich - student suspended for spreading rumor appeals to Board of Regents claiming violation of OMA; ProJo files complaint with AG; AG rules School Committee could close meeting 

"Expulsion hearing opens for student," Dec 4, 2000
"Education Department hearing on student's suspension begins," Feb 15, 2001
"Student appeals suspension for spreading rumor," Jul 20, 2001
"AG: East Greenwich had right to close meeting," Mark Arsenault, Aug 6, 2001

 E. Greenwich - School Committee members question whether proposed changes in Town Charter violate

 "Board decries charter proposal," Feb 18, 2000

 Foster - Supreme Court ruled Open Meetings Law violated when zoning board expanded scope of hearing (gravel pit issue)

 "A rock and a hard place - In rural Foster, a long-running legal battle pits one couple's livelihood against a town's way of life," Melanie Lefkowitz, Jul 24, 2000

Hopkinton - AG finds Ashaway Fire District did not violate Open Meetings Law 

 "Ashaway Fire District absolved of Open Meetings charge," Andrew Goldsmith, Jan 17, 2000

 Johnston - Town Council member files Open Meetings Act complaint with AG's office 

 "Pitochelli charges council broke Open Meetings Law," Bob Jagolinzer, Aug 10, 2001

 Johnston - Town Council president proposes revising Town Charter to including requirements of Open Meetings Law 

 "Charter update board proposed," Bob Jagolinzer, May 8, 2000

 Johnston - AG opinion says Open Meetings Law not violated by  removing resident from Town Council meeting  

"Council critic files complaint with state, ACLU," Celeste Katz, Jan 17, 2000
"Quelled speaker gets little relief," Celeste Katz, Mar 9, 2000

Lincoln - AG dismisses School Committeewoman's claim that board violated Open Meetings Law

"State dismisses Open Meetings Law complaint," M. Bradford Grabowski, Mar 9, 2000

 Lincoln - AG rules Town Council violated Open Meetings Law 

"State rules councilmen violated open meetings law," M. Bradford Grabowski, Sept 28, 2000

 Little Compton - Town Council: violations of Open Meetings Law charged 

"Coffey says councilman has 'vendetta' against police," Alisha A. Pina, Feb 28, 2001

 Narragansett - Town Council guilty of violating Open Meetings Act (Washington County Superior Court and AG involved) 

"Council violated Open Meetings Law," Ron Cassinelli, June 25, 2001
"Judge weighs penalty for meetings violation," Aug 21, 2001

Narragansett - School Committee: failed attempts to open more meeting information/ references to previous AG rulings 

"Board keeps identify of interim schools chief secret, Ron Cassinelli, June 26, 2000
"Regional News Briefs," June 29, 2000
"Interim superintendent to be divulged," Ron Cassinelli, June 29, 2000
"Promotion ceremony at Pier fails again in School Committee vote," Ron Cassinelli, Apr 16, 2001

Narragansett - School Committee decision to fire its lawyers, made in closed session with no vote taken, may violate Open Meetings Law 

"School Committee fires pair of lawyers," Sept 4, 2001

 New Shoreham - Town Council didn't violate Open Meetings Law, AG decides, in agenda controversy 

 "Town Council's agenda omission broke no law," Ron Cassinelli, Dec. 20, 2000

 North Smithfield - Town Council violations of Open Meetings Law continue despite AG opinion that practice of not announcing on agendas what executive sessions will discuss is illegal 

 "Council spurns advice about closed sessions," John Hill, Jan 4, 2000

Providence - Complaints about School Board violating Open Meetings Law

"Tennian files suit alleging secrecy," Gina Macris, Jan 26, 2000
"City Journal," Jan 30, 2000
"Schools, union settle suit over open meetings," Gina Macris, Feb 11, 2000
"City Journal," Feb 13, 2000
"City Journal," Apr 2, 2000
"Board member says he's being silenced," Gina Macris, Aug 16, 2000
"Closed door meeting draws criticism," Gina Macris, Nov 20, 2000
"Parents decry lack of input - Schools faulted for excluding community in planning," Karen A. Davis, Jan 26, 2001
"Board reelects Blakey as head," Gina Macris, Mar 2, 2001
Lopez alleges meeting violation," Gina Macris, May 11, 2001
"School Board accused of 2^nd meeting violation," Gina Macris, May 17, 2001

 Shelter Harbor - AG finds Fire District did not violate Open Meetings Law because group that met was not a public body 

 "Fire district cleared in meetings charge," Andrew Goldsmith, May 16, 2000

 Smithfield - Town Council members complain of Open Meetings Law violation   

"Councilman mulls open meeting complaint," Raghuram Vadarevu, Jan 6, 2000

 South Kingstown - Town Council asks AG about whether School Committee violating open government laws in keeping Asst. Superintendent's salary deal a secret; AG decision announced   

"Severance package will remain secret," Andrew Goldsmith, Apr 23, 2001
"Council wants to know why ex-school official is still receiving pay," Paul Davis, May 15, 2001
"School board vows full disclosure on ex-official's pay," Paul Davis, May 24, 2001

South Kingstown - School Committee asks AG to clarify Open Meetings Law concerning closed-door meetings 

"School board seeks clarification on closed-door huddles," Paul Davis, Feb 18, 2000

 Warwick - AG considering whether to charge Town Council with violating Open Meetings Law over secret meeting 

 "Neighbors challenge decision on Lowe's," June 14, 2001