October 29, 2009 - Assateague Coastal Trust’s complaint filed earlier this summer with the Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board, through the state Attorney General’s office, was filed to formally complain regarding actions taken by the Worcester County Commissioners on May 26, 2009 in closed session to consolidate three departments of Worcester County Government.

ACT argued that the May 26th closed session meeting was in violation of the Maryland Open Meetings Act, and that the scope of the meeting and the decisions made therein fell outside any privilege or exclusion afforded to discussions regarding personnel matters, or matters of an administrative nature.

ACT had asked that the Compliance Board issue an opinion and finding, and today’s ruling (see the full document) finds Worcester County was in violation of the Open Meetings Act on all counts.

In the ruling announced today ACT was also pleased to see the Open Meetings Act Compliance Board upheld our contention that the County's attempt to cure their violation of the Open Meetings Act by voting in public to consolidate the departments at a later Commissioner meeting did not ‘cure’ the defect and does nothing to assure the public, or ACT, that governmental policymaking is being made in a transparent manner. The Open Meetings Act Compliance Board ruled the subsequent vote did not ‘cure’ the violation.

Assateague Coastal Trust is not at all surprised by the finding. In our minds, the County had clearly violated the Open Meetings Act and acted in a manner that was irresponsible to the public, the citizens of Worcester County. It is unfortunate that our elected officials felt they did not have to be accountable to the law and worse, they did not understand their actions behind closed doors should have been conducted in the light of sunshine.