Open Meetings Law FAQ 14

Does the Open Meeting law apply to city or village committees created by a city council or village board?

Yes. The Open Meeting law applies to governmental bodies and "governmental body" is defined to include a "state or local agency, board, commission, committee, council, department or public body corporate and politic created by constitution, statute, ordinance, rule or order . . . or a formally constituted subunit of such body." Wis. Stat. Sec. 19.82(1). Thus, city or village committees created by a city council or village board pursuant to a city or village ordinance, rule or order are subject to all Open Meeting law requirements.