The Charlestown Planning Commission ("Commission") violated the OMA during its May 7, 2014 meeting when it took a secret "preliminary" paper vote. The Commission also violated the OMA when the minutes failed to include a record by individual members of any votes taken regarding this "preliminary" vote or the Commission's subsequent oral vote. The OMA requires that all public bodies "keep written minutes of all their meetings" and that these written minutes include, among other things, "[a] record by individual members of any vote taken[.]" R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-7(a)(3).
