tom.bauer Posted January 21, 2021 at 06:35 PM Report Posted January 21, 2021 at 06:35 PM Can items on the agenda be voted to be in closed session after the agenda is approved. This is what happened. The agenda was approved and prior to the first item being discussed a counsel member states that the last item on the agenda should be closed session. It did not say closed session on the agenda. A motion is made to have the last agenda item be in closed session. A second was made and eventually a vote was taken and passed to move the last item to closed session. The counsel members said that this was allowed. The reason I was at that meeting was regarding the last item. Were they correct in what they did? Thanks in advance! Quote
Joshua Katz Posted January 21, 2021 at 07:47 PM Report Posted January 21, 2021 at 07:47 PM Yes, so far as RONR is concerned. If this is a public body or other regulated entity, laws may apply and say otherwise. Quote
Richard Brown Posted January 21, 2021 at 10:42 PM Report Posted January 21, 2021 at 10:42 PM 4 hours ago, tom.bauer said: Can items on the agenda be voted to be in closed session after the agenda is approved. Agreeing with Mr. Katz,nothing in RONR prohibits what the council did. However, you might check your state's "Open Meetings Laws" (or Sunshine Laws) to see if they contain such a prohibition. Quote
Gary Novosielski Posted January 22, 2021 at 01:42 AM Report Posted January 22, 2021 at 01:42 AM 7 hours ago, tom.bauer said: Can items on the agenda be voted to be in closed session after the agenda is approved. This is what happened. The agenda was approved and prior to the first item being discussed a counsel [sic.] member states that the last item on the agenda should be closed session. It did not say closed session on the agenda. A motion is made to have the last agenda item be in closed session. A second was made and eventually a vote was taken and passed to move the last item to closed session. The counsel members said that this was allowed. The reason I was at that meeting was regarding the last item. Were they correct in what they did? Thanks in advance! I'm guessing on scant evidence that this is a public body such as a town council. IF so, the "sunshine" laws of your state will probably list a series of topics that may be discussed in executive session (presuming that's what you mean by "closed"session). If the item was one of the topics on that list, then they have the power to do that, and depending on the law, may have a duty to do that.. Typical topics requiring confidentiality might include personnel matters, negotiations, potential property purchases or sales, security plans, and items like that which could be damaging if made public. Quote
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