Attorney General Charges Woonsocket Violated Open Meeting Law

WOONSOCKET, RI – The Rhode Island Attorney General's Office has filed a complaint in Superior Court seeking fines against the Woonsocket City Council for willfully or knowingly violating the state's open meeting law. The AG's Office asserts that the council's repeated use of the term "good and welfare" in its agenda when discussing important public business is broad and inadequate.

The AG's Office said it found earlier in 2019 that the city council violated the exact same provision of the OMA when it used the term on the agenda and discussed public matters. The AG's Office determined the term "good and welfare" lacks any identifying information concerning the nature of the business to be discussed.

"Given this history of repeated violations, the patent inadequacy of the agenda item, and the multiple admonishments provided to the city on this exact issue, together with the City Council's discussion of substantive matters under the 'Good and Welfare' agenda item, the Office alleges that the City Council’s violation of the OMA was willful or knowing," the AG's Office said in a statement on Friday.

The suit charges the city council violated the OMA in the agenda for its July 1, Aug. 5 and Oct. 7 meetings.

"Openness and transparency are critical for our government institutions and public bodies to function in a way that effectively serves the best interests of the public," said AG Peter F. Neronha. "We will take action to ensure compliance with the requirements of our open government laws."

The AG's Office said it warned the city council following the first offense that it may serve as evidence of the willful or knowing violation of the OMA in any future uses of the agenda term. The AG's Office said it had evidence that the city council's former solicitor had warned the body that discussing various issues under such a broad agenda item violated the OMA.

In addition to injunctive relief, the AG's Office said it is seeking the assessment of civil fines. Under the OMA, the Superior Court may impose a fine of up to $5,000 if a public body is found to have committed a knowing or willful violation of the statute.