APPENDIXD

OhioAttorneyGeneralOpinions InterpretingOhiosOpenMeetingsAct
The following are summaries of the Opinions of the Ohio Attorney General that have addressed or interpretedtheOhioOpenMeetingsAct.Beawarethatthevalidityofanyoneopinionmayhavebeen affectedbyasubsequentcourtopinionorstatutorychange.Thefulltextoftheseopinionscanbefound athttp://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov.1

2012032
The Ohio Vendors Representative Committee is a public body subject to the requirements of R.C. 121.22.AsubcommitteeoftheCommitteeisapublicbodysubjecttotherequirementsofR.C.121.22, whenthesubcommitteeprovidesadviceandrecommendationstotheCommittee.

2012022
ApublicbodythatwishestoholdanexecutivesessionpursuanttoR.C.121.22(G)(1)must,inthemotion andvotetoholdthatexecutivesession,statewhichoneormoreoftheapprovedpurposeslistedinR.C. 121.22(G)(1) are the purposes for which the executive session is to be held. This requirement is not satisfied if the motion and vote state, without further explanation, that the session is to discuss a personnelmatter. Any vote or action by a county children services board officially placing its executive director on administrativeleaveisaformalactionunderR.C.121.22(H)thatmustoccurinameetingopentothe public.Thefailuretocomplywiththisrequirementrendersthevoteoractioninvalid.

2011038
ApublicbodythatissubjecttotherequirementsoftheOhioOpenMeetingsLawmaynotvoteinan open meeting by secret ballot. R.C. 121.22 is intended to ensure openness and accountability in government. Voting by secret ballot is inconsistent with the purpose of the open meetings law and deniesthepeopletheirrighttoviewandevaluatetheworkingsoftheirgovernment.Ameetingisnot opentothepublicwheremembersofapublicbodyvotebywayofsecretballot.(1980Op.AttyGen. No.083(syllabus,paragraph4),overruled).

Onlyopinionsafter1994areavailableelectronically.WhensearchingthefulltextoftheseopinionsontheAGwebsite,usethenumbers foundinboldaboveeachbodyoftext.Ifusinganothersearchmethod(suchasLexisNexisorWestlaw),thecitationformatneededwillbe different.Forexample,iftryingtolocatethefirstopinionlistedonthispage,theformatusedwouldbe2011OhioOp.AttyGen.No.038. OhioAttorneyGeneralMikeDeWineOhioSunshineLaws2013:AnOpenGovernmentResourceManual D1

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2009034
Duringadeclaredemergency,R.C.5502.24(B)providesalimitedexceptiontofulfillingtherequirements oftheOhioOpenMeetingLaw.Apublicbodymaymeetatanalternativelocation,andexercisetheir powersandfunctionsinthelightoftheexigenciesoftheemergencywithoutregardtoorcompliance withtimeconsumingproceduresandformalitiesprescribedbylawpertainingthereto.However,thisis not an exception to the in person meeting requirement of R.C. 121.22(C) and does not permit the publicbodytomeetbyteleconference.

2008003
Depending on the manner in which it is formed and operated, a nonprofit corporation formed under R.C.1830061mightbesubjecttothepublicrecordslawinR.C.149.43,theopenmeetingslawinR.C. 121.22,orparticularcontractingcontrolsgoverningstateagencies.

2007019
Aboardoftownshiptrusteeshasauthoritytomaintainorderat,approvetheminutesof,andprovide anddistributeawrittenagendaforitsregularmeetings.

2005035
Publichearingsconductedbyatownshipboardofzoningappealstoconsiderthemattersdescribedin R.C. 519.14(A)(C) are not meetings for purposes of R.C. 121.22, but rather, are quasijudicial proceedings. (1985 Ohio Op. Atty. Gen. No. 044 (syllabus, paragraph two) overruled); followed by GroeffKnightv.Brd.OfAppealsofLibertyTwnsp,(June14,2004)FifthDist.No.03CAH08042.

1996046
The health care quality advisory council created by R.C. 4121.442 is without authority to permit a memberwhoisappointedbytheGovernortodesignateanalternatetovoteonsuchmembersbehalf atcouncilmeetings. PursuanttoR.C.121.05,theAdministratorofWorkersCompensationmaydesignatehisassistantora deputytoserveinhisplaceasamemberandchairmanofthehealthcarequalityadvisorycouncil.

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1996010
Absent adoption of a rule by a county board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities specifying the day on which its annual organizational meeting is to be held, the boards annual organizational meeting is not one of the regularly scheduled meetings for purposes of the removal provisionofR.C.5126.04.

1995030
A district advisory council, established pursuant to R.C. 3709.03 has inherent authority to call special meetingsofthecouncilbyactingthroughtheconcurrenceofamajorityofitsmemberswithrespecttoa particularmeetingorbypromulgatingaproceduralruleauthorizingspecifiedofficersormembersofthe counciltocallspecialmeetings;theboardofhealthofageneralhealthdistrictandthestatedirectorof health,asexpresslyprovidedinR.C.3709.03,aretheonlyotherpublicauthoritieswithpowertocalla specialmeetingofthedistrictadvisorycouncil.

1995001
APASSPORTadministrativeagencythatisoperatedbyaprivatenotforprofitagencypursuanttoOhio Admin. Code 5101:33103(A)(1) is a public office as defined at R.C. 149.011(A) for purposes of the publicrecordslawandapublicbodyasdefinedatR.C.121.22forpurposesoftheopenmeetingslaw.

1994096
Acommitteeofprivatecitizensandvariouspublicofficersoremployeesthatisestablishedbytheboard ofhealthofageneralhealthdistrictforthepurposeofadvisingtheboardonmatterspertainingtothe administration of a state or federal grant program is a public body; where the establishment of the committeeisnotrequiredorauthorizedbythetermsofthegrantoranyactionofthegeneralhealth districtboard,suchcommitteeisnotapublicbody.

1994014
ThepanelcreatedbytheErieCountyCourtofCommonPleasinLocalRule17.08(F)isnotsubjecttothe openmeetingsrequirements.

1993033
PursuanttoR.C.5715.07,alldocumentsrelatingtotheassessmentofrealpropertythatareintheoffice ofacountyboardofrevisionorintheofficialcustodyorpossessionoftheboardofrevisionarerequired tobeopentopublicinspection.
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1993012
TheIndustrialCommissionisapublicbodyasdefinedinR.C.121.22(B)(1)andisthereforesubjecttothe openmeetingrequirementsofR.C.121.22.R.C.4121.36providesthatorders,rules,memorandaand decisionsoftheIndustrialCommissionwithrespecttohearingsconductedunderR.C.4121.36maybe adopted either in a meeting of the commission or by circulation to individual commissioners and thereby establishes an exception to the requirement of R.C. 121.22 that the Industrial Commission adoptallresolutions,rulesorformalactionsinanopenmeeting.

1992078
The board of directors of a county agricultural society is a public body subject to the open meeting requirementsofR.C.121.22.

1992077
An advisory committee legislatively created by a board of county commissioners to make recommendationstotheboardonmattersrelatingtoaproposedcountyjailisapublicbodysubjectto theprovisionsofR.C.121.22.

1992065
A housing advisory boardcreated by a county under R.C. 176.01 is a public body for purposes of R.C. 121.22.

1992032
Aboardoftownshiptrusteesmustconductitsopenmeetingsinapublicmeetingplaces,asdetermined in its fair and impartial discretion; board of township trustees may not conduct an executive session from which the public is excluded in order to deliberate about a proposed zoning change, even if the boardultimatelyvotesonthatmatterinanopenmeeting,unlessthedeliberationsweresolelyforthe purposeofdiscussingoneormoreofthesixsubjectareaslistedinR.C.121.22(G).

1992028
Unless a statutory or constitutional provision expressly grants a specific officer of a public body the powertomakethedecisiontocallameetingofsuchbody,thepowertomakethedecisionisvestedin the body itself and not in an individual officer; the decision that a meeting is necessary requires a concurrenceofamajorityofthebody;pursuanttoR.C.5715.09,thesecretaryoftheboardofrevision hasthepowertocallameetingoftheboardasnecessary.
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1988087
Aboardoftownshiptrusteeshasauthoritytoadoptreasonablerulesfortheconductofitsmeetings; suchrulesmaynotprohibitaudioandvideorecordingoftownshipproceedings,butmayregulatesuch recording to promote the orderly transaction of business without unreasonably interfering with the rightsofthosepresent.

1988029
ThePublicUtilitiesCommissionNominatingCouncilisapublicbodyasdefinedinR.C.121.22.

1988003
ThewordpropertyasusedinR.C.121.22(G)(2)meansrealandpersonalproperty,whichincludesboth tangible and intangible property; the PERS may discuss in executive session the purchase or sale of tangibleorintangiblepropertyauthorizedunderR.C.145.11,includingbutnotlimitedtosuchitemsas bonds,notes,stocks,shares,securitiescommercialpaper,anddebtorequityinterests.

1986091
TheOhioLegalRightsServiceCommissionisapublicbodyforpurposesofR.C.121.22.

1985048
The open meeting requirement of R.C. 121.22 and R.C. 305.09 are satisfied where a board of county commissionersconvenesapublicmeetingatwhichonlytwoofthethreemembersarepresentandthe third member of the board, who is not physically present, participates in such board proceedings by meansofcommunicationequipment(priortoenactmentofR.C.121.22(C)).

1985046
Initsdevelopmentofamendmentstothestatehealthplan,theStatewideHealthCoordinatingCouncil (SHCC)must,pursuanttoR.C.370256(C),followtheproceduressetforthinR.C.119.03(A),(B),(C)and (H), with the exception of requirements imposed pursuant to R.C. 119.03 (D)(, (E), (F), (G) and (I); in particular,theSHCCmustfollowthepublicnoticeandhearingproceduresofR.C.119.03(A)and(C)and mustfileproposalswiththeSecretaryofState,theDirectoroftheLegislativeServiceCommission,and theJointCommitteeonAgencyRuleReviewunderR.C.119.03(B)and(H);butproposedamendmentsto thestatehealthplanarenotsubjecttoinvalidationbytheGeneralAssemblypursuanttoR.C.119.03(I).
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1985044
AtownshipboardofzoningappealsisapublicbodyforpurposesofR.C.121.22;atownshipboardof zoningappealsmaynotconduct,inanexecutivesession,deliberationsconcerningzoningappealheard pursuanttoR.C.519.14(A)or(B).(Syllabus,paragraphtwo,overruledby2000OhioOp.Atty.Gen.No. 035).

1982081
AsoldiersreliefcommissionestablishedpursuanttoR.C.5901.02isapublicbodyforthepurposesof R.C.121.22.

1981005
Becausethesuperintendentsofficesare,pursuanttoR.C.3319.19,tobeusedbythecountyboardof education when it is in session, and because the boards meetings are required by R.C. 121.22 to be opentothepublic,thedutyoftheboardofcountycommissionerstoprovideandequipofficesincludes thedutytoprovidesometypeofconferencefacility.

1980083
Acountycentralcommitteeofapoliticalpartyisapublicbodyanditsmembersarepublicofficialsfor purposesofR.C.121.22;conveningthecommitteepursuanttoR.C.305.02isameetingasdefinedby R.C. 121.22(B)(2), even when the number of members present is fewer than the majority of the total membership; the committee may discuss appointment of a person pursuant to its duties under R.C. 305.02inexecutivesessionunderR.C.121.22(G), however,finalvotingonsuchappointmentmustbe heldinapublicmeeting;conveningthecommitteeforconductingpurelyinternalpartyaffairsunrelated tothecommitteesdutiesofmakingappointmentstovacantpublicofficesisnotameetingasdefined byR.C.121.22(B)(2).(Syllabus,paragraph4,overruledby2011OhioOp.AttyGen.No.038).

1979110
The Safety Codes Committee, created by resolution of the Industrial Commission for the purpose of reviewing safety code requirements and drafting revisions for consideration by the Industrial Commission,isnotapublicbodyforthepurposesofR.C.121.22.

1979061
Thegoverningboardofcommunityimprovementcorporation,organizedinthemannerprovidedinR.C. 1702.04andR.C.1724.01toR.C.1724.09,inclusive,doesnotconstituteapublicbodyforthepurposes
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of R.C. 121.22 unless designated an agency of a county, municipal corporation, or any combination hereofpursuanttoR.C.1724.10.

1978059
TheInternalSecurityCommittee,establishedbytheIndustrialCommissionandtheBureauofWorkers CompensationpursuanttoR.C.4121.22(D),isapublicbodyforpurposesofR.C.121.22.

1977075
Pursuant to R.C. 4112.05(B), the Ohio Civil Rights Commission may not reveal the final terms of conciliation,writtenorunwritten,tomembersofthegeneralpublicwhoarenotpartiestothematters conciliated.

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