Workshop votes to enter closed session under Minnesota statute for labor negotiations

At a workshop meeting, participants voted unanimously to move into a closed session under Minnesota Statute 13D.03 to discuss labor negotiation strategies. The motion to go into closed session was made by a participant identified in the record as “David” and was seconded by Ashley Goodman, workshop participant.

The move matters because closed sessions restrict public access to deliberations; Minnesota Statute 13D.03 authorizes certain closed meetings for labor negotiation strategy. On a roll call, Ashley Goodman, workshop participant; Tom Gustafson, workshop participant; David Hardy, workshop participant; Dave Cowan, workshop participant; and Art Schroeder, workshop participant each responded "Yes," approving the closed session. The tally was five votes in favor and no recorded opposing or abstaining votes.

A participant noted there was nobody in the boardroom, so no one needed to be asked to leave the public meeting area. After the roll call, a staff member asked for a minute to set up another online link before proceeding, and the meeting moved to the closed-session agenda item.

No additional substantive discussion of labor negotiation positions, contract terms, or bargaining strategy appears in the public record provided. The transcript records only the procedural motion, the second, the roll call, and the transition to closed session.