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Trainer outlines 10-day complaint response and 14-day cure timeline for alleged open-meeting violations
Summary
VLCT trainer told the boards that a written open-meeting-law complaint requires a public response within 10 calendar days and that a cure should occur within 14 calendar days if the board acknowledges an inadvertent violation; failure to respond is treated as a denial and may be appealed to superior court.
During the training Q&A, the presenter explained the statutory complaint process for alleged open-meeting violations: when a written complaint is filed, the public body must respond publicly at a meeting within 10 calendar days. If the board acknowledges an inadvertent violation, it must state how it will cure that violation within 14 calendar days; if the body fails to respond within the statutory window, that failure is treated as a denial and the complainant may appeal to superior court.
The trainer noted common examples of inadvertent violations (late posting of agendas or minutes not posted within five calendar days) and described typical curative steps — updating procedures, taking training, or ratifying prior actions at a subsequent meeting. She also said attorney's fees may be recoverable by complainants in court if the town loses a suit, but urged boards to use available resources to cure issues quickly.
Board members asked follow-up questions about repeated citizen complaints, the consequences of denial, and practical examples of curative measures. The presenter emphasized that responding promptly in a public meeting is a required first step in the statutory process and recommended calling the VLCT inquiry service for nuanced legal questions.
