OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
Attorney General Opinion No. 95-IB22
July 31, 1995
The Honorable Darrell J. Minott
Department of Labor
Carvel State Office Building
820 N. French Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Re: Meeting of Governor’s Council On Equal Employment Opportunity
Dear Secretary Minott:
You have asked whether the Governor’s Council on Equal Employment Opportunity (“CEEO“) may meet privately with invited guests “from time to time.”
For the reasons stated below, we conclude that the CEEO is a “public body” as defined in 29 Del. C. § 10002(a) and therefore must conduct its public business in accordance with 29 Del. C. § 100, the Freedom of Information Act (the “Act“).
The threshold issue is whether the CEEO is a “public body” as that term is defined in 29 Del. C. § 10002. The two principal elements of a public body were outlined in Delaware Solid Waste Authority v. News Journal, Del. Supr., 480 A.2d 628, 632 (1984). First, the entity must fall within “the broad categories of executive or legislative entities of the State.” Second, “the entity must be supported in whole or in part by public funds…or be specifically charged by any other public body to advise or make recommendations.” The definition was subsequently amended to its present form in 1985.
(a) “Public body” means, unless specifically excluded, any regulatory, administrative, advisory, executive, appointive or legislative body of the State, or of any political subdivision of the State, including, but not limited to, any board, bureau, commission, department, agency, committee, ad hoc committee, special committee, temporary committee, advisory board and committee, subcommittee, legislative committee, association, group, panel, council or any other entity or body established by an act of the General Assembly of the State, or established by any body established by the General Assembly of the State, or appointed by any body or public official of the State or otherwise empowered by an state governmental entity, which: (1) Is supported in whole or in part by any public funds; or (2) expends or disburses any public funds, including grants, gifts or other similar disbursals and distributions; or (3) is impliedly or specifically charged by any other public official, body, or agency to advise or to make reports, investigations or recommendations. Public body shall not include the General Assembly of the State, nor any caucus thereof, or committee, subcommittee, ad hoc committee, special committee or temporary committee.
65 Del. Laws c. 191.
After the change, it was determined that Committees, by definition should be included in the category of public bodies. Atty Gen. Op. No. 94-1O07. The appointment or charge to the Committee could come from a public official as well as another public body.
We understand that the CEEO is an advisory body established by Executive Order comprised of a chairperson appointed by the Governor and members appointed either by the Governor or by the chairperson of the Human Relations Commission from among its own members. It is not specifically excluded from the requirement of 29 Del. C. ch. 100. The CEEO is also supported in part by public funds by virtue of the staff support. More importantly it is charged by a public official with making “reports, investigations or recommendations.” 29 Del. C. § 10002(a). The Executive Order requires the CEEO to furnish a written annual report with recommendations to the Governor and State Personnel Director on October 30 of each year . We therefore, believe that the Council is a public body as defined in 29 Del. C. § 10002(a) and subject to 29 Del. C. § 10004, as well as all other provisions of 29 Del. C. c. 100.
Exceptions within open meeting laws are strictly interpreted to limit non-public meetings. Delaware Solid Waste Authority v. News Journal, 480 A.2d at 631. The exceptions are found in 29 Del. C.§ 10004. Thus, we conclude that the CEEO may not schedule private meetings for members and invited guests. However, it may go into executive session for the reasons permitted by 29 Del. C. § 10004(b) upon an affirmative vote of a majority of members present. For example, if during its review of an agency it becomes necessary to review personnel records, CEEO may sit in executive session under Del. C. § 10004(b)(6) and (9). The notice of the meeting must be specific in its reasons for going into executive session. In Chemical Industry Council of Del., et al. v. Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board, et al., Del. Ch., No. 1216-K, Jacobs, V.C. (May 19, 1994), the Court noted that,
FOIA contemplates that a closed session must be the exception, not the rule, for how a public body conducts its public business. Therefore, the statute requires the public body to justify its invocation of that exceptional procedure. It also requires the public body to inform the public in the notice of the executive session of its precise reason or reasons for convening in private.
See also Mark H. Levy v. Board of Education of The Cape Henlopen School District, Del. Ch., C.A. No. 1447, Chandler, V.C. (October, 1990). Before concluding, we note that the CEEO must comply with all the other record keeping and notice requirements of the Act including maintaining an agenda. See 21 Del. C. § 10004.
We hope this analysis clarifies CEEO’s status as a public body and the application of the open meeting provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. Any executive sessions must be for a permitted purpose after due notice citing the specific exception that permits a closed meeting. See 29 Del. C. § 10004.
If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Very truly yours,
Sherry V. Hoffman
Deputy Attorney General
John K. Welch
Deputy Attorney General
SVH/rt
Approved:
Michael J. Rich
State Solicitor

<< Back