2007-01-03 P&R Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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10 Centerville - Administration (2) Open meeting law. Under the Minnesota Open Meeting Law, all city committee meetings must be open to the public. (a) The open meeting law serves three vital purposes: 1. To prohibit 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; 2. To ensure the public's right to be informed; and 3. To give the public an opportunity to present its views. (b) The law prohibits the use of telephone conversations, e-mail or letters III a decision-making process among a quorum of members designed to avoid an open meeting. (c) Any person who intentionally violates the open meeting law is subject to personal liability in the form of a civil penalty. The public body may not pay the penalty. (H) Minutes. The Committee must keep a full and accurate record of its actions at every Committee meeting. The Administrator records the Committee proceedings in a minute book. In the absence of the city staff member to take the minutes, the Committee should delegate the duty of taking minutes for that meeting. (1) The minutes should be written in language and in terms the average citizen understands. (2) If the Committee finds a mistake in the minutes of the previous meeting, the minutes will be corrected during the current meeting and reflected in the minutes. (3) Once the Committee has formally approved the minutes of any meeting, the minutes should not be changed under any circumstances. (4) Minutes are official papers ofthe city. Minute books are public records, shall be kept on file with the Administrator and must be available for public view at any reasonable time. (5) The following information should be included in the minutes: (a) The time and place of the meeting; (b) The members present;