AG Speaks on Wayland Open Meeting Law Complaints

The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office plans to review the two Open Meeting Law complaints filed against the Wayland Board of Selectmen and determine whether selectmen broke the statute, according to the AG’s office.

The AG’s office also plans to monitor the Board’s plans to confirm and ratify former town administrator Fred Turkington’s termination.

On Monday, Sept. 30, the Board of Selectmen plans to meet, under a specific agenda item, will vote on whether to confirm and ratify Turkington’s Aug. 26 termination. The move is meant to remediate Wayland resident Kim Reichelt’s two Open Meeting Law complaints alleging selectmen violated the law by firing Turkington under a vague agenda item and by discussing the matter prior to the meeting. Selectmen have denied the board broke the law on both counts.

While the AG’s office plans to review the two complaints, under the Open Meeting Law process, cannot respond before Oct. 3, according to the AG’s office.

The remedial action being considered will be done under a much clearer agenda item then the Aug. 26 meeting. The Sept. 30 agenda item reads, “Review Town Administrator Employment Agreement and Job Description, and/or Discuss all Possible Action as Allowable Under the Terms of the Agreement including Whether to Exercise the Authority of the Board to Confirm and Ratify Termination of the Employment Contract of the Town Administrator under the ‘Without Cause’ Provisions of that Contract."

The Aug. 26 item read, “Review Town Administrator Employment Agreement and Job Description.”