FARGO (KFGO) – Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says the Fargo Park Board violated North Dakota’s open meetings laws by failing to give adequate notice about a special meeting regarding the departure of former Park District Director Joel Vettel.

The agenda for the meeting on July 2 was labeled “HR/Staff Review.” Stenehjem says notice of the meeting was insufficient to adequately inform the public of the topics which were intended to be discussed.

Before the meeting, Vettel offered to resign and asked the board to consider a severance package. During the meeting, the board accepted the resignation and approved the severance.

Stenehjem says the park board has one week to review the meeting’s minutes and release further details of what was discussed. He says copies of the minutes must be provided free of charge to anyone who requests them.