Information for Boards, Commissions and Committees Members

Congratulations on your Appointment or Election to a Board or Committee!

The Town of Oak Bluffs relies on our elected and appointed officials for much of the town’s important business. As a member of a public body, you must comply with state and local requirements. This page will give you the resources of what first steps you must do as a municipal official and link to resources and staff who can help you with any questions.

NEW ! BOARD AND COMMITTEE HANDBOOK - adopted by the BOS 10/22/2019

Listing of All Town Boards, Committees and Commissions with Contact Email

OATH OF OFFICE

Before you can attend your first meeting as an elected or appointed official, you must have an appointment letter from the appointing authority and take the oath of office. Once appointed and with your appointment letter, please see the Town Clerk, on the lower level of the Oak Bluffs Town Hall, to be sworn in.

Link to Guide for Members of Public Boards and Commissions  - provided by the Inspector General’s office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

 As a public employee in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are required to comply with the state conflict of interest law, MGL 268A. Compliance with this law helps ensure that public employees serve the public with integrity.

 To address this requirement, please complete the following online Conflict of Interest Law Training course within 30 days of this notice:

 Click this Link to register and access the training course: https://massethicstraining.skillburst.com

 You will be asked to self-register and for your agency, which will be the Town of Oak Bluffs.

Make sure that you take the training and law review for Municipal Employees.

 You no longer need to provide a copy of your certificate of completion to the Town and your certificates will be available and stored online under your account at https://massethicstraining.skillburst.com.

 If you have any questions, click the link above and click the “HELP” button on the top right of your screen.

 More information can be found on the Mass.gov website at:

https://www.mass.gov/how-to/complete-the-conflict-of-interest-law-education-requirements

OPEN MEETING LAW

The Open Meeting Law specifies that all deliberations of a public body be conducted in a meeting open to the public and includes requirements for posting of meeting notices and agendas and how to generate and approve minutes.

Within two weeks of your election or appointment or when you took the oath of office (whichever is later), you must complete a Certificate of Receipt of Open Meeting Law Materials. Please see the links below for materials and certificate, submit this certificate to the Select Board Executive Secretary.

Materials: Attorney General’s Open Meeting Law Guide (PDF)

Receipt: Certificate of receipt for Open Meeting Law Materials (PDF)

OPEN MEETING LAW RESOURCES

Open Meeting Law Website - MASS.gov

Open Meeting Law Guide and Educational Materials

Checklist for Posting a Meeting Notice 

Checklist for Entering Into Executive Session

Checklist for Creating & Approving Meeting Minutes (PDF)

Reasons for Convening into Executive Session (PDF)

PUBLIC RECORDS LAW

A Guide to Massachusetts Public Record law (PDF)

Public Records Law - Information Sheet (PDF)

TOWN’S CONDUCT POLICIES

Code of Conduct Policy (PDF)

Harassment and Non-Discrimination Policy (PDF)

Sexual Harassment Policy (PDF)NEW ! BOARD AND COMMITTEE HANDBOOK - adopted by the BOS 10/22/2019