Open Meeting Law

Recently I was discussing the Housing Authority controversy with a friend, and remembered the Geriatric Authority issue from last year when the GA admittedly violated the State's open meeting law. Then the issue of the transfer station came up again, and someone asked a question neither of us could answer.

Question:

Did Councilor Lopez violate the State's open meeting law on Apr 26th when he did not allow some residents, and property owners to speak at the event he organized near the intersection of Berkshire, and main?

Last weeks edition of the Sun has a good article on the meeting.

His reason for not allowing some people to speak was because of insensitivity to the community, since they did not agree with his anti-transfer station view.

A flier was sent to the neighborhood announcing the meeting. It was billed as a Public Meeting.

DON'T LET HOLYOKE GET TRASHED BY UNITED WASTE MANAGEMENT OF HOLYOKE! COME TO A PUBLIC MEETING TO HEAR HOW THE PROPOSED PLANT COULD AFFECT OUR HEALTH AS WELL AS HOLYOKE'S DRINKING WATER SUPPLY, (ASHLEY RESERVOIR IS ON THE TRAIN ROUTE BRINGING OUT TONS OF WASTE AND DEBRIS).

AN ACCIDENT COULD CONTAMINATE OUR CLEAN WATER SOURCE!! GET INVOLVED! TAKE CARE OF THE HOLYOKE WATER SUPPLY AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE (water, air, health + property values)

RAIN OR SHINE EVENT SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2008, 1:00PM, CORNER OF MAIN & BERKSHIRE STREET, HOLYOKE. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL COUNCILOR LOPEZ
413-532-4496
DIOSDADOLOPEZ@HOTMAIL.COM

Does that mean it is covered under the State's open meeting law? Unless it was a public rally, but since no permits were taken out for one, that would be a whole other ball of wax.

As always, feel free to chime in, and set me straight on this issue.