Cambridge City Councilors Clueless and Spineless

It appears that the Cambridge City Council which repeatedly demonstrates its cavalier attitude toward state and US laws has again violated the MA Open Meetings Law. The council is not only clueless about their own rules and Robert's Rules of Order (a requirement of Cambridge City Council meetings) but they are also clueless about the Open Meetings Law. Crony government rules in Cambridge due to clueless voters who elect the weak politicians with relaxed rectitude. Exceptions to the Open Meetings Law allowing executive sessions does not include legal matters that have been settled. Below are the two sections which mention litigation.

Open Meetings Law Mass General Laws Chapter 39, Section 23B

http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter39/Section23B

states:
Executive sessions may be held only for the following purposes:
[. . .]
(3) To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the governmental body, to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel, to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel.
[. . .]
(9) To meet or confer with a mediator, as defined in section twenty-three C of chapter two hundred and thirty-three, with respect to any litigation or decision on any public business within its jurisdiction involving another party, group or body, provided that: (a) any decision to participate in mediation shall be made in open meeting session and the parties, issues involved and purpose of the mediation shall be disclosed; and (b) no action shall be taken by any governmental body with respect to those issues which are the subject of the mediation without deliberation and approval for such action at an open meeting after such notice as may be required in this section.

[From article]
"At Monday’s City Council meeting, the council voted to have an executive session meeting with City Manager Bob Healy to go over the expenses incurred by the city for the Monteiro and related cases."

http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x2063881645/Civil-rights-case-settlement-details-secret-even-to-Cambridge-city-councilors#axzz1bzO2oKee

Civil rights case settlement details secret even to Cambridge city councilors
By Scott Wachtler/swachtler@wickedlocal.com
Cambridge Chronicle
Posted Oct 26, 2011 @ 09:45 AM
Last update Oct 26, 2011 @ 12:55 PM