Fire District Charged with Open Meetings Law Violation

Posted by: Curt Varone December 8, 2010 1 Comment

Rhode Island's attorney general has filed suit against a fire district for violation of the state's open meeting law. According to Attorney General Patrick Lynch, the Albion Fire District has been warned on two prior occasions about violating the law.

The AG alleges that the District posted an "insufficient agenda" for its meeting on May 11, 2010. The suit alleges that the violation was "wilful and knowing", and seeks the maximum allowable fine of $5,000.

One obstacle the AG may have is that the RI open meetings law limits the time frame to file suit against violators to 180 days following the violation or the public approval of the minutes of the meeting. Depending on when the minutes were approved, the action may be time barred. 

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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