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Board of Health approves draft responses to two open‑meeting complaints, schedules fuller review
Summary
The Board of Health voted unanimously April 7 to authorize town council to finalize draft responses to two open‑meeting law complaints about its March 19 meeting, to publicly release the emails at issue and to take up the matter again at a substantive meeting on April 16.
The Board of Health on April 7 approved draft responses to two formal complaints alleging deficiencies in the notice for its March 19 meeting and possible off‑meeting deliberation.
The unanimous vote authorized town council to finalize and file the responses with each complainant and with the Division of Open Government, and directed that the emails at issue be publicly released and included with the minutes of the April 7 meeting. The board also agreed the matter will be considered in full at its next regular meeting, scheduled for April 16, with at least 48 hours' notice.
Janelle Austin of the town council's office summarized the complaints and the proposed steps. "Those 2 complaints... First, there's an allegation that the Board of Health meeting notice for the 03/19/2026 meeting wasn't sufficiently specific relative to the intended discussion of the board that evening," Austin said, and she added the second allegation "pertains to whether or not there was deliberation outside of a properly posted meeting relative to some emails that were sent out prior that day." She outlined three components of the draft responses: public release of the emails at issue, a further substantive board discussion at the April 16 meeting with 48‑hour notice, and ongoing review of meeting‑notice practices to ensure compliance with the open meeting law.
Board member Meredith Leporey asked for a small factual correction to the draft responses regarding how many motions were circulated by email on March 19. Tom Dixon asked that the response letters be posted in the board's regular packet location so the public can review them and that the April 16 date be included in the notice so members of the public are aware of the follow‑up discussion. The chair incorporated those points into the motion.
Carrie McKenna moved to accept the draft letter and the proposed remedial steps; Meredith Leporey seconded. The board then took a roll‑call vote and the motion carried unanimously.
The board's action authorizes town council to send the finalized responses to complainants Kimberly Latippy (filed 03/23/2026) and Kate Garrett (filed 03/19/2026) and to file them with the Division of Open Government. The board also directed that the emails identified in the complaints be released publicly and appended to the minutes of the April 7 meeting.
The board adjourned after the vote. The substantive follow‑up discussion is scheduled for the regular meeting on April 16, where the board may address the underlying project and take any additional formal steps.
