Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, February 7, 2020 A six-month wait Resolution time for Open Meeting Law complaints nearly doubles, according to state Attorney General By Mark E. Vogler I t took more than six months for the state Attorney General’s Division of Open Government to resolve seven complaints alleging that the Saugus School Committee violated the Open Meeting Law (OML) last June. The division finally determined, on Dec. 31, 2019, that the School Committee held an illegal executive session and took an improper vote behind closed doors to privatize custodial services. By then it didn’t matter, because Saugus voters decided they wanted a new School Committee. All three of the incumbent committee members who ran for reelection were defeated convincingly. The Division of Open Government drew local criticism for such a long delay in reaching a decision. As it turns out, the resolutions to the Saugus Open Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 Lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net SABATINO INSURANCE AGENCY Call for a Quote 617-387-7466 Or email Rocco@sabatino-ins.com We cover: * Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available Meeting Law complaints were about average for what complaint writers experienced statewide, according to a recent report filed with the state Open Meeting Law Advisory Commission. “The average complaint resolution time increased in 2019 to approximately 184 days, as the Division worked in the latter half of 2019 to investigate and resolve a substantial backlog of Open Meeting Law complaints from the preceding 12 months when the Division experienced significant staffing shortages,” wrote Carrie Benedon, Assistant Attorney General and the Director of the Division of Open Government. It was the second consecutive year that the resolution time increased. And last year, it nearly doubled from the previous year. During 2018 the median complaint resolution time was approximately 99 days, an increase over 2017 “largely due to personnel changes, vacancies, and parental leave in a small division,” according to last year’s report. “We will actively work to reduce the complaint resolution time in 2019 once our full complement of staff is again in place,” it continued. Over the period of 2014 through 2017, the division has been able to resolve most complaints within 90 days. The median complaint resolution time in 2017 was about 67 days (a decrease from 77 days in 2016). In a press release issued this week about the division’s annual report, Attorney General Maura Healey didn’t mention the whopping increase in resolution time. “In 2019, the AG’s Office received 324 new OML complaints, issued 170 determination letters, and resolved a historic total of 351 complaints,” the AG press release noted. “By comparison, the Division resolved 235 complaints in 2018 and 249 complaints in 2017. “Our Division of Open Government offers many resources to help educate the public about the Open Meeting Law and its requirements,” said AG Healey. “This report demonstrates the record amount of work we did in 2019 to resolve complaints and promote good governance and transparency across the state.” The AG’s Division of Open Government was created in 2010 to ensure a continued and consistent focus on the law by educating individuals and public bodies about the OML, enforcing the OML, and acting as a readily accessible resource for public bodies. The most frequently occurring OML violations in 2019: • Insufficiently detailed meeting notices • Failure to approve meeting minutes in a timely manner • Failure to properly respond to requests for meeting minutes • Convening in executive session for an improper purpose • Failure to follow appropriate procedures for entering executive session • The remedial actions most frequently ordered by the Division: • Ensuring immediate and future compliance with the OML • Creation or approval of open session minutes • Release or revision of executive session minutes • Attendance at a training on the OML or review of all or part of the AG’s online training video The AG’s Office also continued to focus on education to help ensure compliance with the law, including a monthly newsletter with OML guidance, updates on training opportunities, and Division news to nearly 530 subscribers. The Division also offered eight regional in-person trainings on the OML in towns throughout the state and held 11 live web-based trainings on the law. The Division participated in training events with the Massachusetts Town Clerks Association, the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. In 2019 the AG’s OML hotline responded by telephone and email to nearly 2,000 inquiries seeking guidance on the requirements of the law. Additional information and resources about the OML can be found on the AG’s OML website. Town offers Civilian Police Academy next month (Editor’s Note: Saugus Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree’s Office issued the following info this week.) T http://www.sabatino-ins.com SABATINO 564 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 617-387-7466 Hours of Operation are: Mondays - Fridays 9am to 5pm Saturdays by appointment only own Manager Scott Crabtree and Interim Saugus Police Chief Ronald Giorgetti are pleased to announce that the Police Department is now accepting applications for the Civilian Police Academy, a free eight-week program designed to give residents an idea of what it’s like to be a local police officer. The Civilian Police Academy allows residents to learn a great deal about all aspects of police work and leave with a true representation of life as a police officer. During the course, residents will have the opportunity to learn about patrol procedures, juvenile and drug problems, firearms safety and awareness, recruit and continuing training, use of force, defensive tactics and many other subjects relevant to police work. The Academy will also include a police ridealong and a tour of the Middleton House of Correction. “We are proud to offer this free program to the residents of Saugus and to give them the opportunity to gather insight into what it’s like to be a police officer in Saugus,” said Crabtree. “This is a fantastic opportunity for citizens to learn about all aspects of police work and leave with a true representation of services provided by the Saugus Police Department and Town,” said Giorgetti. Interested residents who are 18 years or older should complete an application, which can be accessed on www.sauguspd.com under the “Forms” tab. All applications should be either delivered in hand to the front desk of the Police Station at 27 Hamilton St., Saugus, or e-mailed to pvansteensburg@ sauguspd.com no later than Wednesday, February 19, 2020. The Academy begins on Wednesday evening, March 4, 2020, and will continue each Wednesday evening for eight weeks. For more information, residents should contact Detective Sergeant Paul VanSteensburg at 781-941-1105.
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