Under Open Meetings Law, which statement about minutes is correct?

• A. Minutes are optional for open meetings.
• B. Minutes must be taken at all open meetings and executive sessions and made available to the public.
• C. Minutes must be kept only for votes taken in open session.
• D. Minutes are confidential and not subject to public access.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that Open Meetings Law requires public bodies to keep a record of what happens at their meetings and to make that record available to the public. Minutes serve as the official, public record of the meeting, showing actions taken, topics discussed, and who voted. Because the law aims to promote transparency, minutes must be created for every meeting, including executive sessions, and they should be accessible to the public in a timely manner. The content of executive sessions, while giving protection to sensitive details, does not negate the requirement that a record be kept and that the fact and general topics of the session can be disclosed as part of the public record, subject to confidentiality rules.

So the best answer reflects that minutes are required for all meetings, including executive sessions, and must be made available to the public. The other statements fall short because minutes are not optional, they cover more than just votes, and they are not entirely confidential to the public.