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.......... 7) issue: Based on Ms. Workman's request for an opinion, the Commissioner will ,address the following Issue: Are the comnmiittees, of the Cannon Falls Community Hospital Board In compliance with Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13D, when they I Minnesota . in closed l session? *, rly,) 4r) Discussion: The parties agree that the Board is subject to the OIVIL. The question before il the Commissioner is whether committees of the Board are subject to the L. Section 13D.01, subdivision 1, states in pertinent part: All meetings,, including executive sessions, must be open to the. public... when required or permitted by law, to transact public business in a meeting... (c) of any (1) committee,, (2) subcommittee, (3) board, (4) department, or (5) commisslon,, of a public body.,.. T'hei express language of thell statute requires open meetings for any type of committee transacting public business. The committees atissue are described as "standing committees," According tilo, the Board, the Hospital District, bylaws require that standing com-mittees be established by Board relsollution. No resolutions were provided to the Commissioner so there is no way to determine If the stan-ding committees h�ave been createdas requilred by the bylaws nor Is there a way to determine what authority h�as been granted to the standing committees by the Board, The Board Indicated that the sltanding committees are responsible for managernent liaison, collection Iof information, and formulation of issues and recommendations for the Board. The Board takes the. position that these act[vitles do not give the, standing committees sufficient authority to re wire that the commit-tees cromply wlith the OML. In support of its position, the Board references two decisions by the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Each 4. http I ,,-//www.pad. state., mn,. us/opinions/2005/0 5 014. html 3/31/2007