The Malden City Council voted on Tuesday to enter executive session to discuss pending litigation identified as Tufts Construction, Inc. v. City of Malden.

Council paper 365-25 cited the Open Meeting Law exemption for strategy with respect to litigation. Councilor Cica moved to enter executive session; Councilor Crowe seconded. The council then took a roll-call vote as required for executive-session motions that invoke litigation exemptions.

The roll call recorded named "yes" votes from Councilors Colon Hayes, Condon, Crowe, McDonald, Cica, Winslow and Council President Linehan. Councilor O'Malley voted "no." The council declared that discussing the matter in open session would have a detrimental effect on the city's litigation posture and that the body would not reconvene in open session after executive session; the meeting will adjourn directly from executive session. The council also authorized admitting a special assistant to the mayor (identified in the record as Maria Louise) to the executive-session discussion.

No substantive litigation strategy or case details were discussed in open session. The council's vote establishes that the body will hold a closed meeting to consult with legal counsel under the cited statutory exemption.