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La Plata council publicly discloses Open Meetings Act documentation lapse, approves corrective steps
Summary
The La Plata Town Council on June 10 acknowledged a Maryland Open Meetings Act compliance board finding that a Sept. 3, 2024 closed session lacked required documentation and approved specific corrective actions including revised notices, written summaries and staff training.
The La Plata Town Council on June 10 publicly acknowledged a Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board finding that a closed session held Sept. 3, 2024 did not meet the Open Meetings Act—s documentation requirements, and the council approved a package of corrective actions.
Mayor James read a prepared statement saying, "The town of La Plata acknowledges the findings issued by the Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board regarding a closed session held on 09/03/2024, which did not fully comply with the procedural recommendations of the Open Meetings Act." The council amended the meeting agenda to include that statement and to remove agenda items 4.1, Town Council Priorities, and 5.1, New Business, before taking the vote to adopt the amendment.
The council approved four corrective measures laid out in the statement: future closed-session notices will identify the statutory authority, the topic(s) and the reason for closure as required; closed-session summaries will be recorded and reviewed to ensure they reflect time, place, purpose, vote, topics discussed, attendees and actions; council members and relevant staff will receive updated Open Meetings Act training; and the town will review internal processes to strengthen compliance. The statement also said the council will sign and submit a copy of the Compliance Board—s opinion to the board, noting that signatures indicate acknowledgment of receipt "not admission of a violation."
A roll call on the agenda amendment showed Councilman Guttenberg voting aye, Councilman McCormick aye, Councilman Sampson no, Councilman Johnson aye and Mayor James aye; the motion passed. The council subsequently approved the May 27 meeting minutes by roll call; those votes were recorded as aye for the participating members.
The statement and vote address procedural shortcomings the Compliance Board found, specifically deficiencies in written closing statements and meeting minutes. The town's planned changes cite procedural sections referenced in the statement, including requirements for notice content and closed-session summaries.
This action represents a formal, recorded acknowledgment by the council and adoption of measures intended to tighten recordkeeping and public disclosure. The council did not, in its published statement, characterize the substance of the closed session as a violation of the law; the statement said the content of the closed session did not violate the act, but that documentation and disclosure were insufficient.
The meeting concluded with the mayor noting the town will continue its governance work and a reminder that a new town manager is expected to attend a meeting next week.
