ADV OM 99-06 (1999).

• Case Date: May 07, 1999
• Court: Rhode Island

Rhode Island Attorney General Opinions 1999. ADV OM 99-06 (1999). State of Rhode IslandDepartment of the Attorney GeneralADV OM 99-06 (1999)AVD OM 99-06 North Providence School CommitteeOM Advisory 99-06May 7, 1999Benjamin M. Scungio, Esq.Providence, Rhode Island 02908Re: North Providence School CommitteeRequest for Open Meetings Act Advisory Opinion Dear Mr. Scungio: We acknowledge receipt of your letter faxed to this Department on May 7, 1999. You represent the North Providence School Department and, in that capacity, you are requesting an advisory opinion to the North Providence School Committee on the Open Meetings Act. In your letter you relate that the North Providence Town Council (Town Council) has requested the attendance of the North Providence School Committee (School Committee) at a special meeting of the Town Council scheduled to be held on May 10, 1999. You relate that the Town Council desires to discuss with the School Committee the efficacy of making the truant officer position full time. The truant officer is a school department position. You acknowledge that this is "clearly school committee business", and in statement number 6 in your letter, you represent that "[t]he School Committee does not have time to advertise this meeting as a School Committee meeting." You are requesting an advisory opinion concerning the applicability of the Open Meetings Act to the School Committee if the School Committee were to meet with the Town Council in open and/or closed session. Benjamin M. Scungio, Esq. May 7, 1999 Page Two The Act mandates that all "public bodies" hold open meetings unless closed pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 42-46-4 and 42-46-5. A "meeting" is defined 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 § 42-46-2(a). Based on your representations, this Department must conclude that a "meeting" of the School Committee would be convened on May 10, 1999, for purposes of the Open Meetings Act because: (1) you represent in statement number 6 that the School Committee does not have time to advertise this as a School Committee meeting; (2) the position of truant officer is "clearly school committee business"; and (3) this Department does not have a more detailed description of the extent of...