What Borough Councils Need to Know About the Sunshine Act After Coleman v. Parkland Sch. Dist.

A recent decision from the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court is sending a clear message to borough councils across the Commonwealth: agenda items can’t be added at public meetings by a simple majority vote—unless a narrow set of Sunshine Act exceptions applies.

In Coleman v. Parkland School District, the Court held that public bodies must adhere strictly to the agenda requirements of the Sunshine Act. This means last-minute additions to meeting agendas are only permitted if they fall under specific exceptions, such as genuine emergencies or de minimis (minor) matters.

This ruling has significant implications for how local governments conduct business transparently and how they respond if they’ve made a procedural misstep.

In the May issue of The Pennsylvania Borough News, published by the PA State Association of Boroughs, Tucker Arensberg Shareholder Daniel Conlon unpacks the Court’s opinion and explains what it means for borough councils. Read the full article by Daniel Conlon here.

For questions about your borough’s compliance with Pennsylvania’s open meeting laws, or if you need legal guidance after this decision, contact the Municipal & School Group at Tucker Arensberg, P.C.