The Montana Board of Regents does not plan to reconsider an agreement governing access to University of Montana Foundation records, even though an open records lawyer considers the new policy a violation of the Montana Constitution and its right to know protections.
Earlier this year, the regents approved an updated contract between the University of Montana and the UM Foundation, the fundraising arm of the campus. The decision was made with no discussion at two regular meetings of the regents.
But lawyer Mike Meloy, an open records expert, said the provisions thwart the public’s ability to access records and to do so in a timely way. As a result, he said, the agreement doesn’t hold up against Montana’s open records laws. Read more…