Refresher needed? Is the Gazette kidding?
There is no indication that our Board of Education (BOE) members have ever understood the requirements of Maryland's Open Meeting law. Each and every BOE member needs to take the Maryland Open Meetings Act online training and produce their Certificates of Completion.
Refresher needed for elected officials
There’s a good-government proposal pending in the Maryland General Assembly that’s worth celebrating.
The House, by a 134-0 vote, passed a measure March 1 to require that at least one person on every public body take a course on the Maryland Open Meetings Act. Del. Anthony J. Donnell (R-Dist. 29C) of Lusby submitted the bill.
The act, commonly known as a “sunshine law,” is what keeps the people’s business out in the open. Government bodies might prefer to shut the door and talk frankly in private whenever there’s a controversial topic, but they can’t. There are certain exceptions, such as discussions about strategy in a lawsuit or a disciplinary action against a specific employee.
Currently, Maryland’s towns, cities and counties decide on their own whether to have their elected officials well versed in the state Open Meetings Act. Being informed is voluntary...
...The online class — at www.igsr.umd.edu/VLC/OMA/class_oma_intro1.php — is a comprehensive overview and gives you quiz questions after each section...
Mandated Open Meetings Law training is needed. No one cares until there's a problem.
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