An Egregious Open Meeting Violation

I constantly hear the refrain that government officials never intentionally violate the open meeting law. When they do violate the law, these people say, it is only because of an innocent mistake. I urge any who believes that to read this report by The Salem News about the Essex Regional Retirement Board. The article describes multiple, blatant violations, including locking the door to its meeting room to keep out a news reporter who had every legal right to be there. Innocent mistake? I don't think so.