Which statement best describes the relationship between meeting minutes and FOIL?

Which statement best describes the relationship between meeting minutes and FOIL?

• A. Minutes Are Required for Open Meetings and Must Be Public Under FOIL
• B. Minutes Are Optional for Open Meetings
• C. FOIL Only Applies to Electronic Records
• D. Minutes Must Be Kept Private

Answer: (A)

Meeting minutes are the official record of what happened at an open public meeting. In New York, public bodies must maintain such minutes, reflecting the proceedings and decisions. FOIL then gives the public the right to inspect and copy government records, including these minutes, with only limited exemptions. So the relationship is that minutes are required for open meetings and, as government records, must be public under FOIL. FOIL covers records in any format, not just electronic, and while some portions can be redacted under exemptions, the default posture is public access.

Meeting minutes are the official record of what happened at an open public meeting. In New York, public bodies must maintain such minutes, reflecting the proceedings and decisions. FOIL then gives the public the right to inspect and copy government records, including these minutes, with only limited exemptions. So the relationship is that minutes are required for open meetings and, as government records, must be public under FOIL. FOIL covers records in any format, not just electronic, and while some portions can be redacted under exemptions, the default posture is public access.