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Municipal Government Coakley names Nasdor to lead new Division of Open Government
Attorney General Martha Coakley today named Robert Nasdor as the director of her office’s newly created Division of Open Government.
In this role, Nasdor will oversee the work of the attorney general’s office to enforce and provide education and training on the state’s open meeting law.
On July 1, the attorney general’s office will assume responsibility for enforcement of the open meeting law from the state’s district attorneys, who previously enforced the law as it pertains to municipal bodies.
“Our office’s approach to enforcement of the open meeting law will focus on education and training,” Coakley said, “and it is our hope that if all local government officials understand the law, we will prevent violations. Bob is a seasoned attorney whose career has focused on public interest advocacy and he shares my commitment to open government.”
Nasdor, a Sudbury resident, previously served as the legal director at the National Center on Homelessness & Poverty in Washington, D.C. He also served for eight years as executive director of the Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts.
Recognizing that most open meeting law violations are the result of a lack of awareness or understanding of the law, Coakley said the new Division of Open Government will focus on providing training and educational resources to public officials. The division will develop a comprehensive Web site with updated open meeting law guidelines and regulations, links to the advisory opinions and hearing decisions, and other educational materials and resources.
The new division will also conduct in-person, regional trainings.
Coakley said her office will continue to accept requests to speak from associations representing municipal officials, city solicitors and town counsel, city and town clerks, and other officials subject to the open meeting law, as well as news media.
Because the attorney general’s office has the authority to issue binding interpretations of the open meeting law – something that the district attorneys did not have – Coakley said her office will be able to help officials avoid violating the law by providing guidance before action is taken. The attorney general’s office will provide both formal and informal guidance to municipalities and other officials.
Officials and other interested parties can ask for a written opinion from the Division of Open Government, which will apply the open meeting law to a specific set of facts. The division will also be able to respond to questions and concerns posed by local officials over the phone.
Coakley said her office also plans to issue procedural and substantive regulations that will help to fill in any gaps in the open meeting law and respond to issues that arise.
Municipal Government Coakley names Nasdor to lead new Division of Open Government
Coakley names Nasdor to lead new Division of Open Government
Attorney General Martha Coakley today named Robert Nasdor as the director of her office’s newly created Division of Open Government.
In this role, Nasdor will oversee the work of the attorney general’s office to enforce and provide education and training on the state’s open meeting law.
On July 1, the attorney general’s office will assume responsibility for enforcement of the open meeting law from the state’s district attorneys, who previously enforced the law as it pertains to municipal bodies.
“Our office’s approach to enforcement of the open meeting law will focus on education and training,” Coakley said, “and it is our hope that if all local government officials understand the law, we will prevent violations. Bob is a seasoned attorney whose career has focused on public interest advocacy and he shares my commitment to open government.”
Nasdor, a Sudbury resident, previously served as the legal director at the National Center on Homelessness & Poverty in Washington, D.C. He also served for eight years as executive director of the Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts.
Recognizing that most open meeting law violations are the result of a lack of awareness or understanding of the law, Coakley said the new Division of Open Government will focus on providing training and educational resources to public officials. The division will develop a comprehensive Web site with updated open meeting law guidelines and regulations, links to the advisory opinions and hearing decisions, and other educational materials and resources.
The new division will also conduct in-person, regional trainings.
Coakley said her office will continue to accept requests to speak from associations representing municipal officials, city solicitors and town counsel, city and town clerks, and other officials subject to the open meeting law, as well as news media.
Because the attorney general’s office has the authority to issue binding interpretations of the open meeting law – something that the district attorneys did not have – Coakley said her office will be able to help officials avoid violating the law by providing guidance before action is taken. The attorney general’s office will provide both formal and informal guidance to municipalities and other officials.
Officials and other interested parties can ask for a written opinion from the Division of Open Government, which will apply the open meeting law to a specific set of facts. The division will also be able to respond to questions and concerns posed by local officials over the phone.
Coakley said her office also plans to issue procedural and substantive regulations that will help to fill in any gaps in the open meeting law and respond to issues that arise.
