Rhode Island's attorney general has filed suit against a fire district for violation of the state's open meeting law. According to Attorney General Patrick Lynch, the Albion Fire District has been warned on two prior occasions about violating the law.
The AG alleges that the District posted an "insufficient agenda" for its meeting on May 11, 2010. The suit alleges that the violation was "wilful and knowing", and seeks the maximum allowable fine of $5,000.
One obstacle the AG may have is that the RI open meetings law limits the time frame to file suit against violators to 180 days following the violation or the public approval of the minutes of the meeting. Depending on when the minutes were approved, the action may be time barred.