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DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL
150 South Main Street * Providence, RI 02903
(401) 274-4400
TDD (401) 453-0410
Patrick C. Lynch, Attorney General
July 24, 2007
ADV OM 07-01
Andrew D. Henneous, Esq.
Brennan, Recupero, Cascione, Scungio & McAllister, LLP
Re: In Re Bristol Warren Regional School Committee (OMA Advisory Opinion)
Dear Attorney Henneous:
As legal counsel to the Bristol Warren Regional School Committee [Committee], you
have asked the Department of Attorney General for an opinion on three issues related to
subcommittees. You describe the three issues as follows:
(1) The Bristol Warren Regional School Conmittee consists of nine (9) members.
The District also utilizes multiple sub-committees. Currently, all sub-committees
consists of four (4) members or less. However, the Regional School Committee is
considering forming sub-committees with five (5) or more members. The
Regional School Committee requests the Attorney General's opinion on whether a
properly advertised sub-committee meeting, consisting of five (5) or more
members, would violate the Open Meetings Act because it could be construed as a
meeting of simple majority of the Regional School Committee.
(2) When sub-committee meetings have been scheduled, often times additional
members of the Regional School Committee (not members of the sub-committee),
wish to attend and participate in these meetings. The Bristol Warren Regional
School Committee requests an Advisory Opinion as to whether their attendance,
as members of the public, would violate the Open Meetings Act as it could be
technically considered a meeting of simple majority of the Bristol Warren
Regional School Committee.
(3) At certain sub-committee meetings, if properly advertised, the sub-committee
chooses to go into Executive Session. A question has arisen as to whether
members of the regular School Committee (not members of the sub-committee),
can join the sub-committee in Executive Session, even if no votes are to be taken.
The Bristol Warren Regional School Committee requests an Advisory Opinion as
to whether members of the regular School Committee (not members of the Sub-](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.sag/sagri0004&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)