Colonial Settlement

I believe City Employees are precluded from running for elected office.  Perhaps this means that City Council is not really an employee of the City.  

The RI Secy of State has a website showing the open meetings such as the one here for Library Trustees- I think it should be 1pm vs 1am but anyone can sign up for meeting notices on the www.sos.ri.gov/openmeetings website. You will note the agenda is there and I believe minutes are also posted after on the same website

Contact Information
Contact Person:
Susan Reed
Phone:
401-725-3714
Email:
sreed at pawtucketlibrary.org
Meeting Information
Date: January 18, 2011
Time: 01:00 AM
Location:
13 Summer St., , Pawtucket, RI 02860

Filed on:
January 12, 2011 at 03:35 PM
Agenda
Agenda filed on January 12, 2011 at 03:35 PM

There is references for more info at the website for the Atty General office

Michael Field, Special Assistant Attorney General

Information

Search OMA/APRA Findings & Opinions
E-mail lmarasco@riag.ri.gov
Phone: (401) 274-4400
Open Government Summit Booklet
Open Government Summit PowerPoint Presentation 2009
The Department of Attorney General is charged by statute to investigate citizen complaints arising under the Access to Public Records Act, R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-8(b), and the Open Meetings Act, R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-8(a). The Access to Public Records Act is a chapter of the Rhode Island General Laws designed to provide access to public documents. The Open Meetings Act is a chapter of the Rhode Island General Laws designed to ensure that the business of government is conducted in an open manner thus allowing public participation in their government.

If you believe your rights under one of these laws have been violated, we encourage you to file a complaint with this Department. You should send your complaint, and any supporting materials to:

Laura Marasco, Special Assistant Attorney General
Rhode Island Department of Attorney General
150 South Main Street
Providence, RI 02903

The Department also issues advisory opinions to public bodies concerning any pending matter that may implicate either the Open Meetings or Access to Public Records Acts. The Department issues two types of advisory opinions: oral/telephonic advisory opinions, which are not binding upon the Department of Attorney General, and written advisory opinions, which express the opinion of this Department. Requests for advisory opinions must be made by legal counsel for the public body.

Links to full text copies of our written advisory opinions and findings are provided below for your convenience. To learn more about the Access to Public Records Act and Open Meetings Act, we encourage you to download a copy of the Attorney General's Guide to Open Government.

If you wish to make an APRA request for documents maintained by the Department of Attorney General, click here for a copy of our APRA policy and our APRA request form. Requests for records maintained by other state or local governmental entities should be sent directly to those entities.
.

Thanks.  Good reference for all.  I use the SOS site all the time and have subscriptions for notifications.  Like almost every Board and Commission in Pawtucket there are no minutes posted for the Library Trustees.  Too bad.  It's a free service which the public (at least this individual) would appreciate.  

From the Secy of State website-

We make government more open and accessible. State law requires many documents to be filed with us, including Lobbying Disclosures, Public Meeting Notices and Minutes, Disclosure of State Government Consultants and Appointments to Boards and Commissions. You can also get guidance on legislative and lobbying issues, use computer work stations with wireless Internet access and follow live coverage of the General Assembly on Capitol TV in our Public Information Center. We are open weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. -- except holidays -- and whenever the General Assembly is in session.

• Find information about Lobbyists & Lobbying including the names of every registered lobbyist and the portal for filing all the reports required under state law.
• Keep track of Open Meetings including agendas of upcoming meetings and minutes of previous meetings of many public bodies.

Interesting as there seems to be a lack of posting of minutes as required by Pawtucket entities as I did a quick scan