Plan commission receives refresher on Wisconsin open meetings law and rules of order

Assistant City Attorney Blake Herbison briefed the Eau Claire Plan Commission on the Wisconsin open meetings law and meeting procedures during the commission’s June 2 session, emphasizing public notice, quorum rules and the risks of informal gatherings that could constitute a meeting under state law.

Herbison told the commission, “the open meetings law in the state of Wisconsin requires that all meetings of a governmental body be preceded by public notice and be held in open session unless otherwise allowed by law.” He outlined key requirements: public notices should normally be given at least 24 hours in advance and must identify the body, date, time, place and subject matter to be discussed; special emergency exceptions may be narrower; and gatherings of a sufficient number of members or serial communications can create an…