BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has issued an opinion on the Frontier Village Association and if they violated open meetings law by failing to post notice of a special meeting.
The Frontier Village Association held a special meeting on September 29, 2019. The meeting notice was provided to the county auditor but was not posted otherwise and was not provided to the newspaper or anyone else who had asked to receive notice.
“The agenda did not include the location for the meeting, did not state the time of the meeting, and failed to city the legal authority for closing the meeting for attorney consultation,” the opinion states. “In all respects, the Frontier Village Association violated the law. The Frontier Village Association must amend its minutes to add detailed recollections of any conversations held during the meeting, and provide the minutes free to anyone who requests them.”
Stenehjem urges members of the association to review their obligations under the open meetings law by utilizing materials available on the North Dakota Attorney General’s website.
“Failure to take the corrective measures described in this opinion within seven days of the date this opinion is issued will result in mandatory costs, disbursements, and reasonable attorney fees if the person requesting the opinion prevails in a civil action,” Stenejhem states.