Board completes open-meetings and records training using interactive Kahoot

During its March 13 meeting the Davis County Library Board conducted an open-meetings and records training session using an interactive Kahoot quiz format. The session covered the presumption of openness for public-body meetings, limits on actions that may be taken in closed session, and the status of recordings and minutes from closed meetings under state law.

Neil Geddes of the county attorney’s office led the training exercise. Training material emphasized that the Open Meetings Act presumes meetings of a public body are open if a quorum is present and that final action on ordinances or contracts cannot be taken in a closed meeting; such actions must be listed on a publicly posted agenda and taken in an open setting. The session also covered the Government Records Access and Management Act and noted that recordings of closed sessions are protected records that may be disclosed only in limited circumstances.

The board used question-and-answer rounds to highlight common mistakes — for example, that a body cannot interview candidates to fill an elective position in a group session and that predetermining action by email or other communications can violate open-meetings rules. The training was interactive and largely informational; no formal policy changes were proposed or voted on during the session.

Board members were encouraged to contact county counsel if they have follow-up questions about nuanced scenarios involving records, closed sessions or agenda posting.