The state attorney general’s office is partnering with Roger Williams University to help ensure government officials are held accountable to taxpayers.
Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin and RWU are scheduled to host the 18th annual Open Government Summit, on Friday, July 29, 9 a.m. - noon, at the school’s campus in Bristol. The summit, in the law school main lecture hall, is free and open to the public. All those interested in learning more about transparency and accountability in government are encouraged to attend.
The summit is expected to begin with opening remarks by Attorney General Kilmartin and Michael J. Yelnosky, dean for RWU School of Law. Assistant Attorney General Michael W. Field, chief of the Open Government Unit, and Special Assistant Attorney General Lisa Pinsonneault will give presentations on the statutory requirements of the state’s Access to Public Records Act and the Open Meetings Act. The presentation will include 2015-2016 case law, best practices, and examples of frequent trouble areas.
The summit will also feature a Q&A session with the Open Government Unit. Members of the public are encouraged to submit questions in advance or on that day. To submit them in advance, email agsummit@riag.ri.gov.
“Our Open Government Summit has become a signature event for public officials and the public to attend and be trained in how to comply with the state’s open government laws,” Attorney General Kilmartin said. “I believe the event’s turnout is a testament to the commitment by public bodies to ensure they are in compliance, both in the letter and the spirit, of the laws. I am proud of the work this office does to help promote accountability and transparency in the state.”
Space in the main lecture hall at RWU is limited, and individuals who would like to attend the Open Government Summit should register with the attorney general’s office. To register, call 401-274-4400, ext. 2101, or email agsummit@riag.ri.gov. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m.
For those who can’t make the summit, it will be streamed live online. The live stream, available through the attorney general’s website — www.rag.ri.gov — will begin at 9 a.m.