ADV OM 99-01 (1999).

• Case Date: February 23, 1999
• Court: Rhode Island

Rhode Island Attorney General Opinions 1999. ADV OM 99-01 (1999). State of Rhode IslandDepartment of the Attorney GeneralADV OM 99-01 (1999)ADV OM 99-01 Advisory Opinion - Open Meetings Act - OM Advisory 99-01February 23, 1999William G. Brody, Esq.Solicitor, City of CranstonCranston, RI 02905Facsimile: 941-1730Re: Advisory Opinion - Open Meetings Act - OM Advisory 99-01Dear Mr. Brody: I acknowledge receipt of your letter sent by facsimile on February 23, 1999, in which you request an advisory opinion on the Open Meetings Act. In your letter you relate that Cranston Mayor John O'Leary has planned to hold a reception in City Hall tomorrow afternoon for members of the General Assembly. Mayor O'Leary wishes to "familiarize legislators and others with the history and status of the City of Cranston." The Mayor felt that "a social, nonbusiness event would be desirable setting in which to educate senators and representative's about the State's third largest municipality." You represent that "[a]s a courtesy, the Mayor has also invited to the reception officials of the City of Cranston, including department heads and elected members of the City Council and School Committee." You further represent that [n]o meetings of any public body are to be convened during the reception and there is no business to be transacted" and "[t]here is no intent on the part of the Mayor in hosting this reception to circumvent any provision of the Rhode Island Open Meetings Law." This Department has rendered several findings on the issue of whether a "meeting" is convened for purposes of the Open Meetings Act when members of a public body attend a social gathering or seminar. In Neubert v. Governor's Office and Exeter Town Council, OM 98-09, the Exeter Town Council attended a presentation by Dr. Robert Carl and a member of the Governor's Office on the development possibilities for the Ladd Center. The members of the Exeter Town Council represented to this William G. Brody, Esq. Advisory Opinion - OMA February 23, 1999 Page Two Department that the Ladd property, or to vote or to take any other actions. As noted in the finding, the Open Meetings Act defines a "meeting" as the "convening of a public body to discuss and/or act upon a matter over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power." R.I. Gen. Laws Section...