New Pioneer Institute Hotline Allows Public to Report Violations of Open Meeting Law
Transparency guards against abuse as public meetings go virtual in response to pandemic
BOSTON – With most public meetings taking place remotely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pioneer Institute has unveiled an online hotline that allows members of the public to report potential violations of the Commonwealth’s and other states’ Open Meeting Law.
In March, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker issued an executive order suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law. The order allows municipal officials to participate in public meetings remotely and allows public bodies to post a recording and full transcript of meetings on the municipal website if the public body, for reasons of economic hardship and despite best efforts, is unable to provide public access via telephone, internet, video conferencing or other alternative means. A number of states have made similar changes.
“We understand that we can’t allow the pandemic to halt the day-to-day functioning of government,” said Pioneer’s Director of Government Transparency Mary Z. Connaughton. “But we also think it’s important to provide an outlet for people to log instances in which the spirit of the law may have been violated.”
People can access the hotline at https://pioneerinstitute.org/survey-open-meeting-laws/. Complaints will be made public.
“Open Meeting Laws provide the public with access,” said Pioneer Executive Director Jim Stergios. “The resulting accountability is a key tool for ensuring that governments act in the public interest.”
About Pioneer
Mission
Pioneer Institute develops and communicates dynamic ideas that advance prosperity and a vibrant civic life in Massachusetts and beyond.
Vision
Success for Pioneer is when the citizens of our state and nation prosper and our society thrives because we enjoy world-class options in education, healthcare, transportation and economic opportunity, and when our government is limited, accountable and transparent.
Values
Pioneer believes that America is at its best when our citizenry is well-educated, committed to liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise, and both willing and able to test their beliefs based on facts and the free exchange of ideas.
Get Our COVID-19 News, Tips & Resources!
Related Content
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Mystic_Generating_Station_Everett_MA1.jpg
1836
3264
Ciana Bonfiglioli
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Ciana Bonfiglioli2017-10-18 10:17:452017-10-18 10:32:59Everett on the Rise
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Football_Field.jpg
768
1024
Ciana Bonfiglioli
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Ciana Bonfiglioli2017-09-19 15:07:112021-10-29 15:37:50To Sign or Not to Sign? Considerations for University Athletics Contracts
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Interior_information_display_on_CRRC_Orange_Line_mockup_April_2017.jpg
960
1280
Ciana Bonfiglioli
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Ciana Bonfiglioli2017-08-10 12:04:592017-10-18 10:31:23Managing Growth in Malden & Somerville: A Tale of Two Cities
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Blog-3-header-graduation.jpg
640
960
Rebekah Paxton
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Rebekah Paxton2017-07-28 13:18:372021-10-29 15:38:21The Crazy World of College Presidential Salaries Part 3: Comparing Presidential Salaries with State College & University Success Rates
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Blog-2-header-money.jpg
646
960
Rebekah Paxton
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Rebekah Paxton2017-07-20 10:00:002017-07-19 22:56:48The Crazy World of College Presidential Salaries Part 2: A Deeper Look
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/dollar-bill-chart-1.jpg
2336
3504
Charlotte Emslie
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Charlotte Emslie2017-07-14 12:11:262020-12-11 13:04:45How Does MA Allocate Money to Its Community Colleges?
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Savings-1.jpg
494
655
Rebekah Paxton
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Rebekah Paxton2017-07-13 09:30:032017-07-12 16:29:08Welcome to the Crazy World of College Presidential Salaries – Part 1
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/sign-realitycheck.jpg
428
439
Mary Connaughton
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Mary Connaughton2017-06-22 11:13:142017-06-22 12:16:09Understanding the Downgrade
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Dollar-sign-with-line-graph-1.jpg
1414
2121
Charlotte Emslie
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Charlotte Emslie2017-06-14 12:02:542017-06-14 16:20:08Community College Presidential Pay Raises Not Necessarily Based on Merit
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/TeacherReading-1.jpg
416
617
Rebekah Paxton
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Rebekah Paxton2017-06-13 11:06:512017-06-13 11:06:51Spending on Students: How Does Groton Compare?
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/pensions-1.jpg
424
638
Josh Beck
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Josh Beck2017-06-01 16:17:402017-06-09 10:49:05How You Can Audit Massachusetts’ Pension Boards
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Rubber-stamp-on-tax-form-1.jpg
1527
2290
Rebekah Paxton
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Rebekah Paxton2017-05-30 12:37:372017-05-30 13:13:10Groton’s Tax Base Dilemma
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/woman-with-diploma-1.jpg
266
400
Charlotte Emslie
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Charlotte Emslie2017-05-24 10:00:132017-05-24 10:44:37MA Colleges Spend Tens of Thousands in Taxpayer Money on Celebrity Commencement Speakers
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/healthcare_costs_scrabble.jpg
800
743
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-05-04 12:34:032018-10-12 14:26:52Study Applauds State Decision To Let Healthcare Spending Benchmark Decrease
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Mapensions.png
942
1206
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-04-25 11:16:222017-04-25 11:17:39So you want to know something about pensions?
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/emergency-room-sign-1.jpg
1417
2117
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-04-10 08:47:452018-10-12 14:26:54Follow-Up Survey Finds Hospitals Still Fall Short On Price Transparency
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Table.png
569
1097
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2017-03-31 12:15:392017-03-31 12:15:39Finance Committee & Town Meeting Members: Benchmarking Tools for the FY2018 Budget Season
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Sunshine.jpg
352
800
Mary Connaughton
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Mary Connaughton2017-03-17 12:58:132017-03-17 15:00:13Sunshine Week 2017: Highlights from Pioneer’s Government Transparency Team
