The Massachusetts Open Meeting Law governs when and how public bodies may meet. The applicable statute is M.G.L. c. 30A, § 20, which establishes the core requirements for public access and meeting notice.
Under this law:
All meetings of a public body must be open to the public.
Meeting notices must include the date, time, and place of the meeting.
Notices must be posted at least 48 hours in advance, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays (unless the meeting is an emergency).
Statutory reference: M.G.L. c. 30A, § 20 which can be found at
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleIII/Chapter30A/Section20
Meetings Held in Non-Municipal Facilities
Regarding location, the Open Meeting Law does not require that meetings be held in municipal buildings. The law requires only that the meeting be held in a place that is open and accessible to the public.
As such:
Meetings may be held in non-municipal facilities (such as community centers, libraries, or rented spaces).
The location must allow the public to attend without unreasonable barriers.
The meeting notice must clearly identify the physical location of the meeting.
Any special access instructions (e.g., building entry procedures) should be included in the meeting notice to ensure transparency and public access.
Meetings Held on Weekends or Legal Holidays
With respect to scheduling, the Open Meeting Law does not prohibit holding a meeting on a weekend or legal holiday. The statute focuses on notice and public access, rather than restricting meetings to business days.
Accordingly:
Meetings may be held on weekends or holidays provided proper notice is given.
When calculating the required 48-hour notice period, Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays are excluded from the calculation.
The meeting must still be open and accessible to the public.
While legally permissible, the Attorney General’s Office has indicated that holding meetings on weekends or holidays is generally not recommended as a best practice, due to potential public access concerns.
