The governing body of a public body shall provide for the sound, video or digital recording or the taking of written minutes of all its meetings. Neither a full transcript nor a full recording of the meeting is required, except as otherwise provided by law, but the written minutes or recording must give a true reflection of the matters discussed at the meeting and the views of the participants. All minutes or recordings shall be available to the public within a reasonable time after the meeting, and shall include at least the following information:
The results of all votes and, except for public bodies consisting of more than 25 members unless requested by a member of that body, the vote of each member by name;
Subject to ORS 192.311 (Definitions for ORS 192.311 to 192.478) to 192.478 (Exemption for Judicial Department) relating to public records, a reference to any document discussed at the meeting.
Minutes of executive sessions shall be kept in accordance with subsection (1) of this section. However, the minutes of a hearing held under ORS 332.061 (Hearing to expel minor students or to examine confidential records) shall contain only the material not excluded under ORS 332.061 (Hearing to expel minor students or to examine confidential records) (2). Instead of written minutes, a record of any executive session may be kept in the form of a sound or video tape or digital recording, which need not be transcribed unless otherwise provided by law. If the disclosure of certain material is inconsistent with the purpose for which a meeting under ORS 192.660 (Executive sessions permitted on certain matters) is authorized to be held, that material may be excluded from disclosure. However, excluded materials are authorized to be examined privately by a court in any legal action and the court shall determine their admissibility.
A reference in minutes or a recording to a document discussed at a meeting of a governing body of a public body does not affect the status of the document under ORS 192.311 (Definitions for ORS 192.311 to 192.478) to 192.478 (Exemption for Judicial Department).
A public body may charge a person a fee under ORS 192.324 (Copies or inspection of public records) for the preparation of a transcript from a recording. [1973 c.172 §5; 1975 c.664 §1; 1979 c.644 §4; 1999 c.59 §44; 2003 c.803 §14]
Source: Section 192.650 — Recording or written minutes required; content; fees, https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors192.html .
This section does not purport to require or authorize public officials to make statements outside of public proceedings or to extend an absolute privilege to officials who choose to do so. Adamson v. Bonesteele, 58 Or App 463, 648 P2d 1352 (1982), aff’d295 Or 815, 671 P2d 693 (1983)
This statute does not create a duty of public official to speak to the public through the press. Adamson v. Bonesteele, 295 Or 815, 671 P2d 693 (1983)
Where evidence showed only that quorum of public body gathered in private for social purposes and no evidence showed that any decisions or deliberations toward decisions occurred at those gatherings, trial court did not err in granting defendants’ motion for summary judgment on claims brought under this section and ORS 192.630. Harris v. Nordquist, 96 Or App 19, 771 P2d 637 (1989)
This section requires that minutes of executive sessions be kept for reasonable time, and one year is reasonable. Harris v. Nordquist, 96 Or App 19, 771 P2d 637 (1989)
Recording and making available to public all votes of “governing bodies,” (1979) Vol 39, p 525