Like every Massachusetts municipal body, Dudley’s boards and committees operate under the state’s Open Meeting Law and Public Records Law. Together, these set the baseline for how residents can see what town government is doing and get copies of the documents behind it.
Who Handles This in Dudley
- Official custodian of town records and elections: Town Clerk.
- Posts meeting agendas: each board or committee, through the Town’s online Agenda Center — though the Town Clerk’s office remains the official posting location for legal purposes.
- Responds to public records requests: the town’s designated Records Access Officer(s), per department.
- Runs Town Meeting itself: an elected Town Moderator, following the warrant and the Citizen’s Guide to Town Meeting.
What the Open Meeting Law Requires
Massachusetts’s Open Meeting Law requires that public bodies — including all of Dudley’s boards, committees, and commissions — post notice of meetings at least 48 hours in advance (excluding weekends and holidays), keep accurate minutes, and generally conduct deliberations in open session unless a specific legal exemption for executive session applies.
What the Public Records Law Requires
Under the state Public Records Law, town government must respond to a public records request within 10 business days, either by providing the records, providing a fee estimate for copying/production, or explaining a specific legal exemption. Requests are typically directed to the relevant department’s Records Access Officer; if you’re unsure which department holds a document, the Town Clerk’s office can generally direct you.
How Dudley’s Government Is Structured
| Form of government | Open Town Meeting |
| Executive board | 5-member Board of Selectmen, 3-year terms |
| Annual Town Meeting | Last Monday in May, with a second (fall) session for additional financial articles |
How to Participate
- Registered voters can attend and vote directly at Annual Town Meeting — no separate registration to attend is required beyond being a registered Dudley voter.
- Board and committee meeting agendas and minutes are posted through the Town’s Agenda Center.
- Warrant articles for each Town Meeting are published in advance, with the full warrant available on the Town’s website.
- Public records requests can be submitted directly to the relevant department or the Town Clerk’s office.
Sources & Public Documents
- Agenda Center — Town of Dudley (agendas & minutes by board)
- Citizen’s Guide to Town Meeting — Town of Dudley
- Open Meeting Law overview — Mass.gov, Attorney General’s Office
- Public Records Law overview — Secretary of the Commonwealth, Public Records Division