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RELEVANT LINKS: • Labor Day (the first Monday in September). • Christopher Columbus Day (the second Monday in October). • Veterans Day (Nov. 11). • Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday in November). • Christmas Day (Dec. 25). Minn. Stat. § 645.44, subd. 5. All cities have the option, however, of deciding whether Christopher Columbus Day and the Friday after Thanksgiving shall be holidays. If these days are not designated as holidays, public business may be conducted on them. Minn. Stat. § 645.44, subd. 5. If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is considered to be a holiday. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the next Monday is considered to be a holiday. Minn. Stat. § 645.15. See Section I-B-2 for more information about notice for special meetings. State law does not prohibit meetings on weekends. However, state law regulating how time is computed for the purpose of giving any required notice provides that if the last day of the notice falls on either a Saturday or a Sunday, that day cannot be counted. For example, if notice for a special meeting to be held on a Saturday or Sunday is required, the third day of that notice would need to be provided on the preceding Friday. Minn. Stat. § 204C.03. Minn. Stat. § 202A.19. Minnesota election law provides that meetings are prohibited between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on any election day, including a local general or special election. Thus, if a school district is holding a special election on a particular day, no other unit of government totally or partially within the school district may hold a meeting between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Meetings are also prohibited after 6 p.m. on the day of a major political precinct caucus. II. Open meeting law See LMC information memo, Meetings of City Councils, for more information about the open meeting law. A. Purpose Minn. Stat. § 13D.01. St. Cloud Newspapers, Inc. v. Dist. 742 Community Schools, 332 N.W.2d 1 (Minn. 1983). The open meeting law requires that meetings of public bodies must generally be open to the public. It serves three vital purposes: • Prohibits actions from being taken at a secret meeting where the interested public cannot be fully informed of the decisions of public bodies or detect improper influences. • Ensures the public’s right to be informed. • Gives the public an opportunity to present its views. League of Minnesota Cities Handbook for Minnesota Cities 10/2/2014 Meetings, Motions, Resolutions, and Ordinances Chapter 7 | Page 11