Weston selectboard adopts revised executive-session and open-meeting policies after complaint

The Town of Weston Selectboard unanimously adopted three written policies on June 3, 2026, after the board presented a formal response to a May 26 complaint alleging violations of Vermont's Open Meeting Law. Vice Chair Jim Linville presented the response, which the board said was "prepared in accordance with V.S.A. 313 (Opening Meeting Law)," and the board voted to dispense with reading the full response aloud.

The board approved three motions proposed by Vice Chair Jim Linville. The first motion requires the town to prepare and adopt a written policy stating that every meeting must have minutes with sufficient detail to reflect topics and motions (citing 1 V.S.A. § 312(b)(1)). The second requires a written agenda policy to ensure "sufficient details concerning the specific matters to be discussed" (citing 1 V.S.A. § 312(d)(3)). The third motion adopted the revised Town of Weston Executive Session Policy dated June 3, 2026. Each motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Board members said the new policies are intended to cure deficiencies identified in several numbered complaints and to create clearer procedures for posting, recording, and documenting meetings. Vice Chair Jim Linville said motions to ratify actions taken at earlier meetings would resolve many of the complaint items and that the board would post the finalized Open Meeting Policy after the June 9, 2026 Selectboard meeting.

What the board approved is procedural: written requirements on agendas and minutes and a revised executive-session policy. The motions adopted were procedural remedies and did not alter previously recorded votes; the board moved to ratify prior meeting actions where necessary and to produce more detailed minutes for specified prior dates.