By Theresa Knapp 

The Attorney General has ruled on two complaints from Grafton & Upton Railroad Company which alleged the Hopedale Select Board “posted insufficiently specific notices for its May 23 and June 21 meetings” and “improperly met in executive session on June 21.” 

The complaints are related to the property located at 364 West Street.

In a letter to special town counsel from Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Carnes Flynn dated May 10, the ruling stated: 

“For the reasons stated above, we find that the Board violated the Open Meeting Law by posting insufficiently specific notices for its meetings held on May 23 and June 21. We find that the Board did not otherwise violate the Open Meeting Law.” 

It further stated, “We order the Board’s immediate and future compliance with the Open Meeting Law and caution that future similar violations may be considered evidence of an intent to violate the law. Because the Complainant understood that its property and the Board’s support of its IRAP grant application would be discussed during the May 23 meeting, and because, on July 11, Special Town Meeting voted in favor of the warrant discussed during the June 21 meeting, we do not order additional remedial action.” 

The full decision can be found in the Select Board’s meeting packet for its May 15 meeting at www.hopedale-ma.gov.