The Complainant alleged that the Westerly School Redesign Advisory Committee ("Committee") violated the Open Meetings Act ("OMA") when it denied him access to the August 7, 2014 meeting because the entry doors. Rhode Island General Laws § 42-46-14 states, "[i]n all actions brought under this chapter, the burden shall be on the public body to demonstrate that the meeting in dispute was properly closed pursuant to, or otherwise exempt from the terms of this chapter." Although the evidence showed that the members of the Committee and one member of the public were in attendance, the Committee did not produce evidence that the entry doors to the building were indeed unlocked. In fact, the evidence presented suggested otherwise. Accordingly, this Department found that the Committee violated the OMA when it denied Complainant access to the August 7, 2014 meeting.
