What does the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) require from public entities?

The Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) establishes a framework to ensure transparency and accessibility in the governmental decision-making process for public entities. Therefore, the requirement that meetings must be open to the public is central to the purpose of the OPMA. This act was designed to promote an open government where citizens can observe and participate in discussions that affect them, fostering accountability and trust in public agencies.

By mandating that meetings be held in a manner that the public can attend, the OPMA aims to allow citizens to better understand governmental operations and to voice their opinions on relevant issues. This openness is fundamental to democratic governance, ensuring that decisions made by public entities are visible and that the process remains subject to public scrutiny.

The other options, such as meetings being closed to the public, limited to weekdays, or conducted in private, contradict the core intent of the OPMA, which emphasizes the necessity for transparency and public involvement in government affairs.