Newton Council President Responds To Open Meeting Law Complaint

NEWTON, MA — After a Newton resident filed an open meeting law complaint against the Newton City Council saying the council added an item to the docket late Friday that was to be discussed without due notice, City Council President Susan Albright responded with a statement:

The City Council recently received an Open Meeting Law complaint filed by a Newton resident alleging it failed to properly post a notice about a vote on the Northland zoning referendum.

The complaint alleges the meeting notice was not posted at least 48 hours in advance of the
meeting, as is required by law. In fact, the meeting notice was posted properly well in advance of the 48-hour requirement.

The City Council deliberation and vote on the repeal and referendum date took place at a
meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020. Notice of this meeting was properly posted on Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, well within the legally required time frame.

The City Council along with the City Clerk David Olson are well versed on the state’s Open Meeting Law.

We take the law and its requirements very seriously.

Related: Resident Files Open Meeting Law Complaint Against Newton Council