The Complainant alleged the West Warwick Town Council violated the OMA when the agenda for its January 16, 2018 meeting was posted less than forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the meeting in violation of R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-6(b). The OMA provides that "[a]ny citizen or entity of the state...
The Complainant alleged the Western Coventry Fire District ("Fire District") violated the OMA when it failed to post the unofficial minutes for its September 7, 2017 meeting on the Secretary of State's website in violation of R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-7(b)(2). The OMA provides that "[a]ny citizen or...
The Complainant alleged the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation ("Corporation") violated the OMA when it untimely posted minutes on the Secretary of State's website for numerous meetings. The OMA provides that "[a]ny citizen or entity of the state who is aggrieved as a result of violations of the...
The Complainant alleged the Air Service Development Council ("Council") violated the OMA when it failed to post its meeting meetings on the Secretary of State's website for its September 8, 2017 meeting in a timely manner. As it did not appear that the Council had legal counsel, this Department...
The Woonsocket Board of Assessment Review ("Board of Review") violated the OMA when it convened into executive session. The evidence was completely devoid of any open call as is required pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-4(a). See R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a). Because we conclude that the Board...
The Complainant alleged that the City violated the APRA when it made approximately 500 redactions when producing over 5,000 calendar entries. Based on our in camera review, we found each redaction proper under the APRA. Numerous entries – such as those regarding interviewees who were not hired,...
The Complainant alleged that the City violated the APRA when it responded to her request by seeking prepayment and stating that review and redaction would take 123 hours. Based on the evidence presented, including the large scope of the request, we found that this estimate was reasonable. See R.I....
Complainant alleged that the Town Council violated the OMA when it changed an agenda item with less than forty-eight hours' notice and when an agenda item was insufficient. Because the Complainant did not provide any indication that the alleged violations specifically prevented her or other...
Legal counsel for the South Foster Volunteer Fire Company ("SFVFC") sought an OMA advisory opinion concerning whether the SFVFC is a "public body" subject to the OMA. Based on Solas v. Emergency Hiring Council, 774 A.2d 820 (R.I. 2001) and Pontarelli v. Rhode Island Board Council on Elementary and...
The Complainant alleged that the FCVFC violated the OMA by failing to post sufficient notice and failing to post sufficient and/or timely meeting minutes for numerous meetings. With respect to these OMA violations, Complainant provided no indication that these alleged defects specifically...
