Is the public body or agency required to keep running minutes or a record of a public proceeding?
There is no requirement under the Freedom of Access Act that a public body or agency keep running minutes during all public proceedings. The Act does require, however, that public bodies and agencies keep a written record of every decision that involves the conditional approval or denial of an application, license, certificate or permit, and every decision that involves the dismissal or refusal to renew the contract of any public official, employee or appointee. 1 M.R.S.A. 407 (1) & (2). If the public proceeding is an “adjudicatory proceeding” as defined in the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, the agency is required to compile a record that complies with statutory specifications, including a recording in a form susceptible of transcription. 5 M.R.S.A. 8002 (1) and 9059.
Related Questions
- Are members of the governing body of a public agency criminally liable for violations of the Open Meeting Law in which they knowingly participate?
- Does the Open Meeting Law require the governing body of a public agency to accept public comments and testimony during meetings?
- Is the agency or body required to make the record or minutes of a public proceeding available to the public?
