Town Compliant With New Open Meeting Law

Whether it's 3 a.m. or 1 p.m., residents wondering what boards and commissions are meeting in Marblehead in the next 48 hours can now find that information posted and available for viewing 24 hours a day, thanks to changes in the state's Opening Meeting Law, which took effect on Thursday.

The law now requires in part that meetings and hearings be posted 48 hours in advance, and that postings be accessible 24 hours a day – not just online, but physically posted somewhere in town.

Town Clerk Robin Michaud said the town is now compliant.

"Residents now have 24-hour access at the police station," Michaud said, noting that access is available by computer at the station. "All agendas are available 48 hours in advance."

The law also states that a posting is not complete without having specific agenda items listed. When the town posts on its website meetings months or weeks away without agenda items, those will be courtesy postings. Town officials will still need to post physical postings, with specific agenda items, 48 hours in advance of the meeting.

Many of the Marblehead committees and commissions, such as the School Committee, have already gone through Open Meeting Law training to interpret the new law.

"The postings will be up 48 hours in advance not including weekends or holidays," Michaud reminded. "Before it did include Saturdays."

To view the Open Meeting Law regulations that went into effect this week, visit this Attorney General's Office website.