Groton Select Board Acknowledges Open Meeting Law Violations, Approves Corrective Letters

GROTON -- July 16, 2026, Groton Select Board admits open meeting law violations over appointment notices, votes to respond. The board voted 5-0 Thursday morning to approve two letters acknowledging violations of the Massachusetts open meeting law stemming from its June 15 and June 29 meetings, after resident Patrick Higgins filed complaints on July 9 alleging that the notices for both sessions omitted the names of individuals being considered for appointment to town boards and committees. Town Counsel found that while candidates' names had appeared in the Town Manager's reports within the posted meeting packets, the law requires the names to be on the meeting notice itself. The response letters, drafted by Town Counsel and approved for Chair Peter Cunningham's signature, commit the board to listing candidates by name on future agendas and will be filed with the Massachusetts Attorney General's office.