OM 99-04 (1999).

• Case Date: May 04, 1999
• Court: Rhode Island

Rhode Island Attorney General Opinions 1999. OM 99-04 (1999). State of Rhode IslandDepartment of the Attorney GeneralOM 99-04 (1999)OM 99-04 Newport School Committee - Thompson Building Sub-CommitteeMay 4, 1999 OM Advisory 99-04Neil P. Galvin, Esq.Corcoran, Peckham & Hayes, P.C.P.O. Box 399Newport, RI 02840Facsimile: 847-5810Re: Newport School Committee - Thompson Building Sub-CommitteeRequest for Open Meetings Act Advisory Opinion Dear Mr. Galvin: We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated April 16, 1999. You are legal counsel for the Thompson Building Sub-Committee of the Newport School Committee and, in that capacity, you are requesting the Department of the Attorney General to render an advisory opinion on the Open Meetings Act. In your letter dated April 16, 1999, you relate that the Thompson Building Sub-Committee is composed of twenty (20) members. In the future, there will be community and parent group forums which some sub-committee members will attend to provide information as to the progress of the sub-committee. You represent that no meeting will be convened and no actions will be taken. The sub-committee members simply want to provide information at these community forums. You are requesting this Department to render an advisory opinion as to whether attendance by subcommittee members at such community forums is acceptable under the Open Meetings Act. The stated purpose of the Open Meetings Act is to ensure that "public business be performed in an open and public manner and that the citizens be advised and aware of the performance of public officials and the deliberations and decision that go into the making of public policy." R.I.Gen. Laws Section 42-46-1. The Open Meetings Act governs the "meetings" of a public body. A "meeting" is defined as the "convening...