Attorney General finds Gardner council’s executive session and minute review proper in DeMeo complaints
Summary
The Massachusetts Attorney General reviewed two open-meeting-law complaints against the Gardner City Council and concluded the Dec. 4 executive session was properly held, some complaints were untimely, and the council’s June 3, 2024 review of minutes complied with the law; council placed the AG determination on file.
The Gardner City Council on Dec. 1 placed on file the Massachusetts Attorney General’s determination stemming from two open-meeting-law complaints filed by Paul DeMeo in May and July 2024.
Councilor Kuzinskas summarized the AG findings for the council. He said the office concluded that allegations tied to Aug. 7 and Sept. 18 meetings were filed beyond the 30‑day statutory deadline and therefore were not timely. The AG also found the Dec. 4 executive session had a proper purpose — review of previously held executive-session minutes — and that the council’s June 3, 2024 review of the Dec. 4 minutes met the legal requirement to review such minutes “at reasonable intervals.”
Kuzinskas emphasized that filing a complaint does not mean a violation occurred and said the AG’s letter illustrated the legal review that follows each complaint. “When complaints are filed without a valid basis, it creates forces legal staff and elected officials to focus on issues that turn out to be unfounded,” he said.
The council voted to place the Attorney General’s determination on file. The action does not impose penalties; it records the AG’s conclusions and closes the item unless further legal steps are taken by the complainant.
