EMAILED TO THE MIRROR FROM D.A. MARTHA COAKLEY: Open Meeting Law Press Release

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MIDDLESEX DISTRICT ATTORNEY
40 THORNDIKE STREET CAMBRIDGE MA 02141
Tel: 617-679-6500
Fax: 617-225-0871


Contact: Emily LaGrassa/Melissa Sherman FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(617) 679-6522 June 21, 2006

DISTRICT ATTORNEY CLARIFIES OPEN MEETING LAW ISSUE

CAMBRIDGE – The Middlesex District Attorney’s office has completed its review of recent activities of the Everett Board of Aldermen in signing and submitting a letter to the editor to the Everett Leader-Herald News Gazette. The letter was printed in the April 27, 2006, edition of the newspaper. Alderman Joseph McGonagle brought the matter to the attention of the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office after Everett Mayor John Hanlon publicly expressed his opinion that the signing of the letter constituted a violation of the Open Meeting Law.

Information reported in the May 25, 2006, Everett Leader-Herald News Gazette, the May 26, 2006, Everett Advocate, and the May 31, 2006, Everett Independent, indicating that Mayor Hanlon had met with District Attorney Martha Coakley regarding this matter, is not accurate. District Attorney Coakley and Mayor Hanlon spoke briefly at an unrelated social event about this potential Open Meeting Law issue, but no legal opinion was provided by the District Attorney. The District Attorney suggested to Mayor Hanlon that he refer the matter to her office for an investigation by the Office’s Open Meeting Law Team.

At this time, after a preliminary review of the facts, including the fact that the letter has been made public and will be available to the public in the minutes of the Board of Aldermen, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office’s Open Meeting Law Team has determined that no further action on this matter is necessary.

NOTE: A copy of the letter issued by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office regarding this investigation is attached.