Open Meetings and Closed Minds: Another Road to the Mountaintop
43 Pages Posted: 11 Nov 2012 Last revised: 12 Nov 2012
Date Written: 2004
Abstract
Conventional wisdom is that public bodies’ “open meetings” are a good thing, a superficially attractive proposition. However, the legal requirements are irrational in design and insonsistent in application – especially when measured by their stated objectives. The article explains the goals and arguments for open meetings, followed by an analysis of their costs and unintended consequences, and concludes with proposals offering agencies more flexibility in achievement of open meetings’ goals, especially with regard to pre-decision “deliberations.”
Keywords: Administrative Procedure Act, agency deliberations, open meetings
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