Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Open Meetings topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Trainer: avoid 'walking meetings' and majority group texts that could breach open-meetings rules
Summary
The presenter cited an attorney-general opinion and local examples to warn that private coordination among a majority—whether at events or by group text—can run afoul of the Open Meetings Act and may become subject to open-records requests.
Christian Reiner told councilors that transparency is the core purpose of Oklahoma’s Open Meetings Act and that private coordination among a majority risks violating the law.
"So a member of the governing body may not lawfully meet separately with other members to obtain signatures of a majority or to take action that would otherwise require consideration and vote in open meeting," Reiner said, referencing an attorney-general opinion. He discussed examples such as councilors attending a high-school football game together and 'walking meetings' where members privately solicit support for a vote.
Reiner also warned that group texts or majority electronic conversations can create legal exposure; such messages are often subject to open-records requests and have led to public controversies in other Oklahoma cities.
