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Many towns not complying with updated Open Meetings Law

Dec 16, 2021 5:44 am

Noah Zweifel reports in the Altamont Enterprise about how many local municipalities are breaking the law. A month ago the Open Meetings Law was updated, now requiring all public bodies in New York with websites to post meeting minutes within two weeks of a meeting’s occurrence. In southern Albany County, Berne was a day late last week getting the minutes of a November meeting posted, while in Knox, the most recent planning board minutes posted are from July. In Rensselaerville the most recent planning board minutes posted are from November of last year. But Rensselaerville is still complying with the law, as they have not posted minutes, but have posted recordings of the meetings. Rensselaerville, New Scotland, and Guilderland have all posted meeting recordings. Rensselaerville also streams meetings live. "It is the responsibility of every municipality and unit of local government (there are thousands of them across the state) to stay aware of changes to State law that may affect them,” said Kristin O’Neill, assistant director for the New York State Committee on Open Government. Read more about this story in the Altamont Enterprise.