The Commonwealth Court’s decision in Coleman v. Parkland Sch. Dist., 305 A.3d 238 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2023) has significant implications for boroughs in Pennsylvania. The Court ruled that Section 712.1(e) of the Sunshine Act is not a standalone exception allowing borough councils to add any agenda item by majority vote. Instead, it is a procedural tool that applies only when one of three specific exceptions is met: emergencies, minor (de minimis) matters arising within 24 hours of the meeting, or minor matters raised by residents during the meeting. This ruling reinforces the importance of transparency and limits how borough councils can modify agendas after they are posted.
Originally published in Borough News - May 2025.
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