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City attorney briefs Carlsbad Arts Commission on Brown Act and public‑records rules
Summary
City Attorney Cindy McMahon and Assistant City Clerk Morgan Fry gave commissioners a refresher on the Brown Act and California Public Records Act, emphasizing that many emails, texts and some social‑media interactions are public records and that serial communications can constitute a meeting.
City Attorney Cindy McMahon and Assistant City Clerk Morgan Fry told the Carlsbad Arts Commission on Feb. 5 that commissioners should assume most communications about commission business are public records and that even electronic and social‑media interactions can trigger Brown Act obligations.
"Most paper and electronic documents that are sent to or from the city are considered city records," McMahon said, adding that "this includes emails and text messages even if they are sent to or from personal devices." She told commissioners to assume records related to their official roles may be subject to public disclosure and to consult their staff…
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