Open Meeting Law Overview
Can a meeting be closed to the public?
Any other advice for a board that needs to close its meeting?
- Do NOT vote in executive session. The
board can only deliberate in executive session. If the board needs to act on
something that is discussed during the executive session, the board needs to
return to its normal meeting process and use a motion and vote to act. The minutes
should reflect this.
- Take minutes during the executive
session. The law requires this. See MCA 2-3-212. Minutes of meetings – public
inspection. These minutes cannot be publicly shared but must be adopted in a
public meeting.
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Use this option
sparingly. The law is clear. There aren’t many exceptions to holding a public
meeting.