Steve:
Well, of course it matters if the meeting is open ... and yes, IM could be a
public record (note the word "could"), depending on the value of its content
(back to basics). It's similar to the idea of 3 or more council members
having an email conversation about public business - this might be
considered a "meeting" and should be "open". If the IM is captured in some
way, then my guess is it would have a very short term retention. We don't
allow it here on our system (at least that's what I'm told by IT, and I've
never seen it).

Our councilmembers are regularly advised about the need to post notice of
any gatherings of 3 or more members where public business will be discussed,
including "electronic" meetings.

Sharon G. Blackstock, CRM
Central Records Administrator
Lakewood City Clerk's Office
480 South Allison Parkway
Lakewood CO 80226-3127
303-987-7091 (office)
303-987-7088 (fax)
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www.lakewood.org

Lakewood's records management objectives: 1) Information is available when
needed; 2) Records of permanent value are preserved; 3) Non-permanent
records are destroyed per approved retention schedules; 4) Discarded paper
is recycled.

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