Open Meeting Law

Every municipal board, council, commission and committees (legally defined as “public bodies”) of a municipality is required to comply with the Open Meeting Law. The Law applies when there is:

(1) a quorum of a public body.

(2) involved in a discussion or taking action; and

(3) the subject matter of the discussion is one over which the body has authority or responsibility.

To view an in-depth guide to Vermont's Open Meeting Law, visit this site: Open Meetings (vermont.gov)

If you think that an open meeting law violation has occurred, the first step is to submit a written notice to the public body, alleging a specific violation and requesting a specific cure. Written notice can be emailed to adminassist@randolphvt.org or dropped off at the Town Manger's Office.

The written notice of complaint must allege a specific violation of the Open Meeting Law, identify the public body that committed the alleged violation, and request a specific cure of such violation. Upon receipt of the written notice of alleged violation, the public body will respond publicly to the alleged violation within 10 calendar days by either acknowledging the violation and stating an intent to “cure” or stating that the public body has determined that no violation has occurred (for which no “cure” would be necessary).

Failure of a public body to respond to a written notice of alleged violation within 10 calendar days will be treated as a denial of the violation for purposes of enforcement of the Open Meeting Law.

Either the Attorney General or "any person aggrieved by a violation of the law" can bring an action in Superior Court for injunctive relief or declaratory judgment. The public body (the Town) must be provided written notice of the alleged violation and an opportunity to "cure" that violation.