The following is an excerpt from the New York State Open Meetings Law:
After the Meeting-Minutes
If you cannot attend a meeting, you can still find out what actions were taken, because the Open Meetings Law requires that minutes of both open meetings and executive sessions must be compiled and made available.
Minutes of an open meeting must consist of "a record or summary of all motions, proposals, resolutions and any matter formally voted upon and the vote thereon." Minutes of executive sessions must consist of "a record or summary of the final determination" of action that was taken, "and the date and vote thereon." Therefore, if, for example, a public body merely discusses a matter during executive session, but takes no action, minutes of an executive session need not be compiled. However, if action is taken, minutes of the action taken must be compiled and made available.
