(NADD)
The DA stated, “This Office has found that the Selectmen violated the Open Meeting Law dozens of times by meeting in closed session to discuss the Brickstone Development.”
The town’s attorney, Mr. Gelerman, wrote several letters attempting to explain why breaking the law didn’t occur. The DA’s decision rejected these explanations.
This is the third time since 2001 that the DA’s office cited the Sharon Selectmen for breaking the Open Meeting Law.
The DA stated, “Using closed sessions to discuss how options could be kept from the public is contrary to the letter and spirit of the Open Meeting Law.”
The DA stated that the Selectmen should publicly acknowledge the DA’s finding that their “closed sessions regarding the Brickstone Development were a significant violation of the Open Meeting Law.”
The front-page article in the Sharon Advocate on February 1, 2008, and the Selectmen’s comments at the January 29, 2008 Selectman’s meeting, both suggest that the Selectmen still think they are above the law, and do not regret their illegal actions.
It is important that the voting public be aware of illegal actions taken by our leaders in promoting massive developments that will profoundly change the character of our community. According to the minutes of the illegal, closed-door executive sessions, the Selectmen actually discussed how to keep options from the public.
Negotiating development deals in illegal closed-door executive sessions, and stubbornly continuing to suggest that those illegal actions are somehow justifiable, is anathema to transparent and inclusive town government, contrary to the best interests of our community, and a very bad example for our children. Please remember this the next time you are in the voting booth or at a town meeting.
For the full text of the District Attorney’s decision, see: http://www.peer.org/docs/ma/08_28_1_da_sharon_decision.pdf