1972

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 715

(D)    THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY DO NOT YIELD THEIR
SOVEREIGNTY TO THE AGENCIES WHICH SERVE THEM;

(E)    THE PEOPLE, IN DELEGATING AUTHORITY, DO NOT
GIVE THEIR PUBLIC SERVANTS THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHAT IS
GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE TO KNOW AND WHAT IS NOT GOOD FOR THEM
TO KNOW; AND

(F)    THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO REMAIN INFORMED IS
PROTECTED SO THAT THEY MAY RETAIN CONTROL OVER THE
INSTRUMENTS THEY CREATE.

8.    DEFINITIONS

(A)    IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE
MEANINGS INDICATED.

(B)    "PUBLIC AGENCY" INCLUDES:

(1)    ANY AGENCY, ASSEMBLY, AUTHORITY, BOARD,
BUREAU, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE, COUNSEL, OR DEPARTMENT OF
ST. MARY'S COUNTY, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION
[[11(E)]] 15 OF THIS SUBTITLE, INCLUDING ADVISORY AND
QUASI-JUDICIAL AGENCIES, SUPPORTED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY
PUBLIC FUNDS OR AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND PUBLIC FUNDS; AND

(2)    SUBCOMMITTEES AND OTHER SUBORDINATE
UNITS OF THE AGENCIES ABOVE.

(C)    "MEETING" MEANS THE CONVENING OF A QUORUM OF
THE CONSTITUENT MEMBERSHIP OF A PUBLIC BODY TO DELIBERATE
OR ACT UPON A MATTER OVER WHICH THE PUBLIC BODY HAS
SUPERVISION, CONTROL, JURISDICTION OR ADVISORY POWER.

(D)    "PUBLIC BUSINESS" MEANS ALL MATTERS WITHIN THE
JURISDICTION OF A PUBLIC AGENCY WHICH ARE BEFORE AN
AGENCY FOR OFFICIAL ACTION OR WHICH REASONABLY,
FORESEEABLY MAY COME BEFORE THAT AGENCY IN THE FUTURE.

(E)    "OFFICIAL ACTION" MEANS THE PHASES OF THE
PROCESS IN WHICH A DECISION OR RECOMMENDATION IS REACHED
INCLUDING RECEIPT OF INFORMATION, DELIBERATION AND
DECISION OF A PUBLIC AGENCY.

(F)    "STAFF MEETING" MEANS A MEETING OF [[TWO]]
THREE OR MORE STAFF MEMBERS OR A STAFF MEMBER AND A
MEMBER OF A PUBLIC AGENCY.

(G)    "QUORUM" UNLESS OTHERWISE DEFINED BY
APPLICABLE LAW, MEANS A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF THE
CONSTITUENT MEMBERSHIP OF A PUBLIC BODY.

9.    OPEN MEETINGS

(A) ALL MEETINGS OF A PUBLIC AGENCY AT WHICH
OFFICIAL ACTION IS TAKEN REGARDING PUBLIC BUSINESS ARE
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 16.