In a genuine effort to understand the law and their obligations, Poland’s elected leaders held a workshop Tuesday night on Maine’s Freedom of Access laws.

Such an open commitment to understanding the laws is welcome and should be applauded. Selectmen and members of the School Committee attended the meeting, which included presentations from the town’s lawyer and from Sun Journal Managing Editor/days Judy Meyer, who sits on the state’s FOA commission.

Participants asked good, tough questions and demonstrated a sincere desire to apply the access laws.

Following Poland’s good example, Barbara Payne, a Paris selectman, has asked her colleagues to hold a similar workshop. So far, they don’t seem inclined, but it could come up for discussion later.

Other selectmen seem content to hold questionable executive sessions without following the FOA requirements. Payne is right, and they are wrong. A workshop could help the entire town better understand the laws and help promote open, accessible government.

Paris should follow Poland’s lead. An FOA workshop is painless, and the benefits can far outweigh the time it takes to attend one.