Definitions-remote participation

29.02: Definitions

Here are the definitions from the Attorney General website Open Meeting Law Guide. As you can see in the last line, Remote Participation involves a public meeting! Not normal business, just so we are on the same page Virginia Wilder!!!

As used in 940 CMR 29.00, the following terms shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
Commission means the Open Meeting Law Advisory Commission, as defined by G.L. c. 30A, sec. 19(c).

District Public Body means a public body with jurisdiction that extends to two or more municipalities.
Emergency means a sudden, generally unexpected occurrence or set of circumstances demanding immediate action.
Intentional Violation means an act or omission by a public body or a member thereof, in knowing violation of M.G.L. c. 30A, sec. 18-25. Evidence of an intentional violation of M.G.L. c. 30A, sec. 18-25 shall include, but not be limited to, that the public body or public body member (a) acted with specific intent to violate the law; (b) acted with deliberate ignorance of the law's requirements; or (c) was previously informed by receipt of a decision from a court of competent jurisdiction or advised by the Attorney General, pursuant to 940 CMR 29.07 or 940 CMR 29.08, that the conduct violates M.G.L. c. 30A, sec. 18-25. Where a public body or public body member has made a good faith attempt at compliance with the law, but was reasonably mistaken about its requirements or, after full disclosure, acted in good faith compliance with the advice of the public body's legal counsel, such conduct will not be considered an intentional violation of M.G.L. c. 30A, sec. 18-25.
Person means all individuals and entities, including governmental officials and employees. Person does not include public bodies.
Post notice means to place a written announcement of a meeting on a bulletin board, electronic display, website, cable television channel, newspaper or in a loose-leaf binder in a manner conspicuously visible to the public, including persons with disabilities, at all hours, in accordance with 940 CMR 29.03.
Public body has the identical meaning as set forth in M.G.L. c. 30A, sec. 18, that is, a multiple-member board, commission, committee or subcommittee within the executive or legislative branch or within any county, district, city, region or town, however created, elected, appointed or otherwise constituted, established to serve a public purpose; provided, however, that the governing board of a local housing, redevelopment or similar authority shall be deemed a local public body; provided, further, that the governing board or body of any other authority established by the general court to serve a public purpose in the commonwealth or any part thereof shall be deemed a state public body; provided, further, that "public body" shall not include the general court or the committees or recess commissions thereof, bodies of the judicial branch or bodies appointed by a constitutional officer solely for the purpose of advising a constitutional officer and shall not include the board of bank incorporation or the policyholders protective board; and provided, further, that a subcommittee shall include any multiple-member body created to advise or make recommendations to a public body.
Qualification for Office means the election or appointment of a person to a public body and the taking of the oath of office, where required, and shall include qualification for a second or any subsequent term of office. Where no term of office for a member of a public body is specified, the member shall be deemed to be qualified for office on a biannual basis on January 1st of a calendar year beginning on January 1, 2011. Where a member's term of office began prior to July 1, 2010, and will not expire until after July 1, 2011, the member shall be deemed to have qualified for office on January 1, 2011.
Remote Participation means participation by a member of a public body during a meeting of that public body where the member is not physically present at the meeting location.
To Top