A new letter has been sent by the Attorney General’s Office to the Northfield Selectboard regarding the open meeting law complaint which was filed by Grand Juror, Chris Bradley back in the spring.

The letter states that during the executive session which was held by the Selectboard on December 3, 2009, the board directed the town manager to prepare a draft budget which would include the elimination of the position of superintendent of public works.

The letter states that “it is difficult to reconcile that action with the requirement that ‘no formal or binding action shall be taken in executive session except actions relating to the securing of real estate options.’”

Assistant Attorney General, Michael McShane, who wrote the letter stated that “the preparation of an alternative budget would not seem to be in the nature of routine administrative action” and asked what justification the board had for taking such action.

The letter goes on to criticize the joint meeting which the selectboard had with the village trustees on December 21, 2009 which the letter states “was held in an unusual location and no members of the public or media attended.” At that meeting, a consensus was reached by both boards favoring the elimination of the public works position according to the letter. However, the minutes of that meeting make no mention of the discussion regarding the elimination of the public works position nor did they mention the consensus that was apparently reached. This, the letter concluded “may fail to ‘give a true indication of the business of the meeting.’”

The attorney general requested any information or interpretation which the board might offer on these issues.