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OM 18-11 Novak v. Western Coventry Fire District – No Violation

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 entity of the state who is aggrieved as a result of violations of the provisions of this chapter may file a complaint with the attorney general." R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-8(a); see also Graziano v. Rhode Island State Lottery Commission, 810 A.2d 215 (R.I. 2002). Here, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-8(a), and the standard established in Graziano, it was unclear how the alleged violation specifically disadvantaged the Complainant. This Department found that the Complainant was not an "aggrieved" party and therefore did not have standing to allege the OMA violation. See Fernandes v. Foster Center Volunteer Fire Center, OM 18-07; Langseth v. Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, OM 18-09.

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