Fairbanks North Star Borough trains boards and commissions on Open Meetings, records and meeting procedure

Borough Mayor Grier Hopkins opened an orientation for new and returning board and commission members and said the mayor’s office will survey and visit commission meetings to "re‑energize" their work and gather priorities. Borough Attorney Jill Dolan and Borough Clerk April Trickey then led a training session on the Open Meetings Act, public‑records obligations, conflicts of interest and parliamentary procedure.

The training centered on compliance and practical steps for volunteers. Dolan framed the law as a tool for public, informed decision‑making and urged conservative interpretation of exemptions: "I love the Open Meetings Act," she said, adding that courts generally construe exceptions narrowly and that clerks will assist with notice and process. Key takeaways included the need to give adequate public notice, to avoid serial or quorum‑level exchanges outside…