School committee authorizes chair to respond to multiple Open Meeting Law filings

The Swansea School Committee on Monday voted to authorize Chair Sonia Barbosa, with assistance from Superintendent Holcomb and district counsel if needed, to respond to four filings from citizen Patrick Higgins that the superintendent described as related to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law.

Superintendent Holcomb told the committee that the four items in the superintendent's report are listed in the meeting packet and that the filings include both formal open-meeting complaints and at least one request for records. "I believe it was mislabeled. It was more of a request for records," Holcomb said of one submittal seeking executive session minutes.

Committee members approved motions directing the chair to respond to the filings dated 04/29/2025, 05/01/2025, 05/04/2025 and 05/05/2025. Each motion passed by voice vote; the minutes record "all in favor, aye; opposed? None."

Holcomb explained that the filings sometimes show two dates — the date of an alleged violation and the date the filing was received — and said that confusion in the packet comes from inconsistent dating on the materials that Mr. Higgins provided. "On each one of the things in your backup you may see two dates...the alleged violation date and the date of the filing," Holcomb said, adding the administration had verified the agenda dates against receipt dates.

Board members discussed that some filings can be resolved administratively (for example, by supplying records) while others could be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General for review. Holcomb said the committee would respond as appropriate and that Mr. Higgins has the right to bring matters to the Attorney General if he wishes.

The committee did not delegate authority beyond responding to the filings and indicated staff and counsel may be consulted when preparing responses.