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145 University Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55103-2044 <br /> • Phone: (651) 281-1200 • (800) 925-1122 <br /> TDD (651) 281-1290 <br /> League o`Minnesota Cities LNIC Fax: (651) 281-1299 • LMCIT Fax: (651) 281-1298 <br /> Cities promoting excenence <br /> Web Site: http://www.lmnc.orgi <br /> January 9, 2002 <br /> Mike Morenson <br /> City of St. Anthony Village <br /> 3301 Silver Lake Rd NE <br /> St. Anthony Village, MN 55418-1603 <br /> Re: Serial Meetings <br /> Dear Mr. Morenson: <br /> This letter is response to your recent inquiry for information regarding serial <br /> meetings and the Open Meeting law. <br /> • As you are aware, the Open Meeting law requires, with some specific exceptions, <br /> that all meetings of public bodies be open to the public. A meeting is not limited <br /> to official council meetings, and also includes such things as executive sessions <br /> and training sessions. In general; a meeting is anytime a quorum of the body is <br /> present and official business is discussed. I believe that it is helpful to-keep in <br /> mind that the intent of the Open Meeting law is that the public be able to see not <br /> only the decisions that are reached, but also the input and deliberation that go <br /> into those decisions. <br /> Through a serial meeting, it is possible to violate the Open Meeting law without a <br /> quorum of the council being together in the same location. Such a violation could <br /> occur as follows: council member A meets with council member B and they <br /> discuss city business; either then meets with council member C and discuss the <br /> same business. Without being in the same room, a quorum of a five person <br /> council have discussed the same issue. In theory, council members A, B and C <br /> could have reached a decision on the issue and that decision need only be <br /> formalized at the next council meeting without comment. Even if a decision was <br /> not reached, deliberation has occurred. That is the kind of non-public decision <br /> making that the Open Meeting law is intended to prohibit. <br /> I think of it as being anytime the ideas or thoughts of a quorum of the council are <br /> present in a discussion there could be a violation of the Open Meeting law. A <br /> • council member.couldiend an 6-mail or memo'6,the rest.of.the.council outlining <br /> his or her view on a.topic._.(One=way communication-is-not,:a'violation.).H'owever, <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER <br />