Open meeting to executive session

[Guest Mdsckelly]

Can you adjourn the open meeting to then proceed to executive session? In other words, does the open meeting need to be open to go into executive session?

[Hieu H. Huynh]

The meeting could simply go into executive session.

[Guest Open meeting to executive]

My question is, is there an issue to adjourn the open meeting, and then move to executive session. I don't plan to return to open session, so I want to adjourn open session before proceeding to executive session.

[Dan Honemann]

14 minutes ago, Guest Open meeting to executive said:

My question is, is there an issue to adjourn the open meeting, and then move to executive session. I don't plan to return to open session, so I want to adjourn open session before proceeding to executive session.

Doing what you say you want to do would be a big mistake. Once a meting is adjourned, its over. 

Pay attention to H.H.H.

[Richard Brown]

1 hour ago, Guest Open meeting to executive said:

My question is, is there an issue to adjourn the open meeting, and then move to executive session. I don't plan to return to open session, so I want to adjourn open session before proceeding to executive session.

As Mr. Honemann said, once the meeting adjourns, it is adjourned.... it is over.  Unless the executive session has been called as a separate meeeting, there will be no authority to start a new meeting in executive session once the meeting is adjourned.  You should call the meeting to order in open session, take care of whatever business is to be done in open session, then, without adjourning, go into executive session by a majority vote or, as is common, by unanimous consent.  When the business to be taken care of in executive session is concluded, simply adjourn the meeting.  There is no need to come out of executive session and go back to open session before adjourning, but you may do so if you prefer.  There is no point in it if there is no more business to conduct.

[Josh Martin]

1 hour ago, Guest Open meeting to executive said:

My question is, is there an issue to adjourn the open meeting, and then move to executive session. I don't plan to return to open session, so I want to adjourn open session before proceeding to executive session.

The "open meeting" and the "executive session" aren't two separate meetings, they are two parts of the same meeting. You don't "adjourn open session." The motion to adjourn ends the meeting in its entirety, and therefore should not be adopted until all portions of the meeting are over.

The proper motion is to adopt a motion to go into executive session. Whether or not the assembly intends to later return to open session does not change this process.

[Joshua Katz]

Agreeing with the above, perhaps we can suggest ways to achieve your goal if you can tell us why you wish to do so.

[Guest Puzzling]

Not sure what is the problem.

My guess is that Guest Mdsckelly wants to set the date of the next meeting (so that the  public in advance  knows when the next public meeting is and confuses the "motion to adjourn' with the " motion to fix the time to which to adjourn" ( while not adjourn after this but going into executive session). 

If this was your question (and I am only guessing) this is all okay and can be done see  section  22 of RONR.

[Gary Novosielski]

On 5/1/2021 at 10:35 AM, Guest Open meeting to executive said:

My question is, is there an issue to adjourn the open meeting, and then move to executive session. I don't plan to return to open session, so I want to adjourn open session before proceeding to executive session.

Once you "adjourn" you can't move anything, and everyone goes home.  If you want to go into executive session, just move to go into executive session.  At the end, you can move to come out, and then adjourn, or simply adjourn.  I recommend the former, so that the time of adjournment will appear in the minutes of the general meeting, and not those of the executive session.

[Richard Brown]

44 minutes ago, Gary Novosielski said:

At the end, you can move to come out, and then adjourn, or simply adjourn.  I recommend the former, so that the time of adjournment will appear in the minutes of the general meeting, and not those of the executive session.

Good advice. I agree. 

[Dan Honemann]

2 hours ago, Gary Novosielski said:

At the end, you can move to come out, and then adjourn, or simply adjourn.  I recommend the former, so that the time of adjournment will appear in the minutes of the general meeting, and not those of the executive session.

 

1 hour ago, Richard Brown said:

Good advice. I agree. 

If a meeting which began in open session adjourns while in executive session, let's say it's 3:00 PM, I see no reason why the minutes of the open session could not reflect that it was adjourned at 3:00 PM.

[Dan Honemann]

4 minutes ago, Daniel H. Honemann said:

If a meeting which began in open session adjourns while in executive session, let's say it's 3:00 PM, I see no reason why the minutes of the open session could not reflect that it was adjourned at 3:00 PM.

As a matter of fact, I think that that is exactly what they should do.

[Richard Brown]

39 minutes ago, Daniel H. Honemann said:

 

If a meeting which began in open session adjourns while in executive session, let's say it's 3:00 PM, I see no reason why the minutes of the open session could not reflect that it was adjourned at 3:00 PM.

 

38 minutes ago, Daniel H. Honemann said:

As a matter of fact, I think that that is exactly what they should do

As I think more about it, I agree.  I see no reason why the regular minutes of the meeting cannot state the time of adjournment.  Regardless of whether the adjournment was done in open session or executive session, the time of adjournment should be included in the minutes of the meeting.  RONR (12th ed.) 48:4 (12).