June 29, 1993

 

 

Mr. George Heidcamp
2314 Rt. #32
Saugerties, N.Y. 12477

The staff of the Committee on Open Government is authorized to issue advisory opinions. The ensuing staff advisory opinion is based solely upon the facts presented in your correspondence.

Dear Mr. Heidcamp:

I have received your letter of June 7 in which you requested an advisory opinion concerning the Open Meetings Law.

When a majority of a town board convenes at a scheduled "workshop" meeting, you asked whether it is "mandatory for the Town clerk to be present to record the minutes." Further, since you were advised by the Town Supervisor "that he, himself, could take minutes or designate some other individual to do it," you asked whether such a practice is allowable.

In this regard, I offer the following comments.

First, it is noted that the definition of "meeting" [see Open Meetings Law, §102(1)] has been broadly interpreted by the courts. In a landmark decision rendered in 1978, the Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, found that any gathering of a quorum of a public body for the purpose of conducting public business is a "meeting" that must be convened open to the public, whether or not there is an intent to take action and regardless of the manner in which a gathering may be characterized [see Orange County Publications v. Council of the City of Newburgh, 60 AD 2d 409, aff'd 45 NY 2d 947 (1978)]. I point out that the decision rendered by the Court of Appeals was precipitated by contentions made by public bodies that so-called "work sessions", "agenda sessions" and similar gatherings held for the purpose of discussion, but without an intent to take action, fell outside the scope of the Open Meetings Law. As such, a "workshop" is a meeting subject to the Open Meetings Law in all respects.

Second, with respect to minutes of "workshops", as well as other meetings, the Open Meetings Law contains what might be viewed as minimum requirements concerning the contents of minutes. Specifically, §106 of the Open Meetings Law states that:

"1. Minutes shall be taken at all open meetings of a public body which shall consist of a record or summary of all motions, proposals, resolutions and any other matter formally voted upon and the vote thereon.

2. Minutes shall be taken at executive sessions of any action that is taken by formal vote which shall consist of a record or summary of the final determination of such action, and the date and vote thereon; provided, however, that such summary need not include any matter which is not required to be made public by the freedom of information law as added by article six of this chapter.

3. Minutes of meetings of all public bodies shall be available to the public in accordance with the provisions of the freedom of information law within two weeks from the date of such meetings except that minutes taken pursuant to subdivision two hereof shall be available to the public within one week from the date of the executive session."

Based upon the foregoing, it is clear in my view that minutes need not consist of a verbatim account of what was said at a meeting; similarly, there is no requirement that minutes refer to every topic discussed or identify those who may have spoken. Although a public body may choose to prepare expansive minutes, at a minimum, minutes of open meetings must include reference to all motions, proposals, resolutions and any other matters upon which votes are taken. If those kinds of actions, such as motions or votes, do not occur during workshops, technically I do not believe that minutes must be prepared.

Third, §30(1) of the Town Law states in relevant part that the town clerk:

"Shall have the custody of all the records, books and papers of the town. He shall attend all meetings of the town board, act as clerk thereof, and keep a complete and accurate record of the proceedings of each meeting..."

Based upon the foregoing, only the clerk in my opinion is authorized to take minutes, and I do not believe that the Supervisor may designate himself or another person to do so.

Although the Town Law requires that the clerk be present at each meeting of the town board for the purpose of taking minutes, it might not be reasonable to construe §30(1) to require the presence of a clerk at a "workshop" during which there are no motions, proposals, resolutions or votes taken. Section 30 of the Town Law was enacted long before the Open Meetings Law went into effect. Consequently, the drafters of §30 could not likely have envisioned the existence of an extensive Open Meetings Law analogous to the statute now in effect. I believe that §30 was likely intended to require the presence of a clerk to take minutes in situations in which motions and resolutions are introduced and in which votes are taken. If those actions clearly will not occur during a workshop, it is in my view unnecessary that a town clerk be present to take minutes.

I hope that I have been of some assistance. Should any further questions arise, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

 

Robert J. Freeman
Executive Director

RJF:pb

cc: Town Supervisor
Town Clerk