ADV OM 99-11 (1999).

• Case Date: August 20, 1999
• Court: Rhode Island

Rhode Island Attorney General Opinions 1999. ADV OM 99-11 (1999). State of Rhode IslandDepartment of the Attorney GeneralADV OM 99-11 (1999)AVD OM 99-11 Rhode Island State Council on the ArtsAdvisory OM 99-11August 20, 1999Mr. Randall RosenbaumExecutive DirectorRhode Island State Council on the ArtsProvidence, Rhode Island 02903Re: Rhode Island State Council on the ArtsRequest for Open Meetings Act Advisory Opinion Dear Mr. Rosenbaum: We acknowledge receipt of your letters dated July 16, 1999, and July 28, 1999, requesting an advisory opinion on the Open Meetings Act (OMA). You are the Executive Director for the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. In your July 16, 1999 letter, you related that: "the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts in cooperation with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be hosting a meeting of the newly formed Task Force on Literacy in the Arts. This meeting is designed as a combination social event and orientation session for the members of the Task Force. No decisions will be made nor will any action be taken." Subsequently, in your July 28, 1999 letter, you advised this Department that "[t]he task force orientation meeting scheduled for September 15 will take place during a dinner." You related that "[i]ntroductions will take place in order for the members of the task force to get to know each other." Thereafter, you explained, "[t]he Governor's Executive Order outlining the task of the task force will then be reviewed and clarified with the members and an outline for the frequency of meetings and their expected commitment will be reviewed and clarified." In a telephone conversation with the undersigned you stated that the review of the Governor's Executive Order will occur by means of a joint presentation by you, the Executive Director of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, and by the Commissioner of Education. Lastly, you represented that Mr. Randall Rosenbaum August 20, 1999 Page 2 of 3 a question and answer period will occur. You query whether "this sort of meeting falls under the Open Meeting[s] Law." The OMA 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...