07/22/2026
Town of East Greenwich Recognized as a State Leader in Public Meeting Accessibility
The Town of East Greenwich continues to be recognized as one of Rhode Island's leaders in government transparency and public engagement.
In a report originally issued by the ACLU of Rhode Island in 2023 and recently updated in 2026, East Greenwich remains among a very small number of municipalities meeting all of the organization's recommended best practices for remote public meeting access. Even more significantly, when both the Town Council and the East Greenwich School Committee are considered together, East Greenwich joins only the Town of Barrington as one of just two Rhode Island communities whose municipal government and school district collectively satisfy every evaluation criterion established by the ACLU.
The report evaluated four key measures of public accessibility for local government meetings:
Livestreaming of public meetings.
Maintaining an online video archive of recorded meetings.
Providing online access to agenda materials and supporting documents.
Allowing members of the public to participate remotely during meetings.
By meeting each of these standards, East Greenwich has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to transparency, accessibility, and meaningful public participation. These practices allow residents who may be unable to attend meetings in person—including seniors, individuals with disabilities, working families, military personnel, students, and residents traveling for business—to remain informed and actively engaged in local government.
Background
The ACLU notes that remote public access became essential during the COVID-19 pandemic, when executive orders required public bodies to livestream meetings and provide opportunities for remote public participation. Although those statewide requirements expired in 2022, municipalities have retained the discretion to determine how accessible their meetings remain.
Recognizing the importance of continued public access, the ACLU first evaluated Rhode Island municipalities in 2023. At that time, only eleven city and town councils and a single school committee met all four accessibility standards. In its 2026 follow-up report, the ACLU found only modest statewide improvement.
Among its findings:
Only four city and town councils improved their accessibility practices since 2023.
Eight school committees improved their accessibility. Two municipal councils and three school committees still meet none of the evaluated accessibility standards. Three school committees appear to have reduced public accessibility since the original report.
Notably, no additional municipal councils joined the list of those meeting all four standards since the original 2023 report. However, East Greenwich's School Committee was recognized in the 2026 update as now meeting all four criteria, making East Greenwich—along with Barrington—the only two Rhode Island communities whose municipal government and school district both provide this comprehensive level of public access.
Commitment to Transparent Government
The Town has long recognized that transparency and accessibility are fundamental principles of good governance. By continuing to invest in modern technology, livestreaming capabilities, digital archives, and online access to meeting materials, East Greenwich has created multiple avenues for residents to stay informed and participate in the decisions that shape their community.
While many municipalities have scaled back remote meeting opportunities following the pandemic, East Greenwich has maintained these practices because they strengthen civic engagement, improve public trust, and make local government more accessible to all members of the community.
The Town appreciates the efforts of municipal staff, the Town Clerk's Office, Information Technology personnel, and the School Department for their continued commitment to providing residents with one of the most accessible and transparent public meeting environments in Rhode Island.
As the ACLU concludes in its 2026 report, there remains considerable opportunity for municipalities across Rhode Island to improve public access. East Greenwich is proud to serve as a model for open government and remains committed to ensuring that residents have every opportunity to observe, participate in, and remain connected to the work of their local government.
