At least one city councilor will oppose efforts to bar the public from public meetings

Minutes of our Boston City Council appear in an abbreviated manner at http://cityofboston.gov/citycouncil

The Minutes of our Boston City Council have references that aren't explained. Papers are mentioned without even referencing the topic of the papers. Docket numbers aren't cross referenced.

A cross index is needed for the Docket numbers. The City Clerks office is adamant the the legal requirement of the minutes is met but the spirit of the requirement isn't because of the abbreviated content and because of the too obscure content.

The Minutes of our Boston City Council can't be understood by most people.

Explanatory information is needed at http://cityofboston.gov/citycouncil for people attempting to read the Minutes.

Minutes of our Boston City Council also appear attached to the paper edition of the City Record publication available at Boston Public Library branches but not in the online City Record at http://cityofboston.gov/purchasing

Hardcover bound books of Minutes of our Boston City Council are prepared. Check with the City Council library.

"The Boston City Council, as the legislative branch of city government, is the repository of a number of publications and resources relating to Boston’s history and government. The City Council maintains a reference library which is open to city employees, students and the general public. The library contains City Council Minutes, Municipal Registers and City Documents dating from the early 1800’s to the present. In addition, the library contains current publications relating to municipal law and finance."
http://www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/citycounci...

"City Council TV: 10 Years and Going Strong
http://www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/Announceme...
On September 25, 2006, City Council TV began its second decade broadcasting Council Meetings and Committee Hearings on cable television. In the last 10 years, City Council TV has broadcast approximately 15,000 hours of meetings and hearings, with more than 2,500 live broadcast hours

Ten years ago, with the assistance of local television stations, the Cable Office and Cablevision, the City Council began live broadcasting in an effort to reach out to those who could not attend Council Meetings and Committee Hearings. While the City Council had audio equipment already installed for amplification and audio tape recording, video and transmitting equipment were provided by the stations and Cablevision. Initially, the production was done by student interns, then by a programmer on the Council Central Staff. Broadcasts ran from 10AM to 3PM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Over the 10 years, hours and days have expanded, so that today City Council TV can be seen Monday through Friday 10AM - 5PM on Comcast Channel 51. We have recently updated both audio and video systems to improve sound and picture quality for the home viewers. Beginning in 2005, City Council TV added the capacity for live web cast viewing via the Internet and created a Video Library of past hearings and meetings that are accessible via the City's website 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

Moving forward, City Council TV hopes to expand its coverage opportunities as technology and available time allow.

To watch live, go to:City Council Live TV

To view a previously recorded hearing/meeting, go to: Video Library

To order a VHS tape, go to: VHS Tape Orders"
http://www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/Announceme...

Yoon, probably the most intellectually curious and independent member of the City Council, is on the right side of this issue.

In Medford, the only way you can get minutes is to go to City Hall and maybe they will be able to photocopy what little is available from a meeting six months ago for an outrageous per-sheet cost - and get it to you within a week or two.

When somebody asked for the school budget, the townie bred superintendent gave lots of excuses as to why it was a loose paper copy in his office - and why that couldn't be scanned to .pdf or otherwise provided in an electronic format.

In other words, this shit isn't limited to Boston. Obstruction of public access to records happens elsewhere - they just don't have the same excuses as they used to. I don't see this as an attempt to change things - they are fighting to keep the sort of secrecy they once took for granted.

I would love to see this whole steaming pile explode on both Boston and other cities, and result in a tightly written state law requiring all budget and meeting documents to be provided to the public within a time limit, and made available on the internet.