Kean Fed'n of Teachers v. Morell

*156**570With the enactment of the Open Public Meetings Act (the OPMA or the Act), L. 1975, c. 231 (codified at N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 to -21), the Legislature established procedures governing the conduct of meetings of public bodies. The Act makes explicit the legislative intent to ensure the public's right to be present at public meetings and to witness government in action. N.J.S.A. 10:4-7. That legislative intent is balanced by an express recognition that public bodies must be allowed to exercise discretion in determining how to perform their tasks, see N.J.S.A. 10:4-12(a), and whether to engage in…