Granville County committee moves into closed session for legal advice; no action taken

The Granville County Committee of the Whole moved into an executive session to receive legal advice related to pending, threatened or potential claims, and announced afterward that no action was taken.

The motion to go into executive session was introduced by a councilmember who said, “Make a motion that we move into executive session for the discussion of matters related to the receipt of legal advice where the legal advice relates to pending, threatened, or potential claims or other matters covered by the attorney client privilege, settlement of legal claims or the position of the public agency and other adversary situations involving the assertion against the agency of a claim.” The motion was seconded by the chair and approved by voice vote when the chair asked, “All in favor?” and members responded, “Aye.”

When the meeting resumed, a staff member addressed the chair and reported, “the body is coming out of executive session where it discussed matters related to the proceed of legal advice with the legal advice relates to related to pending threatened or potential claims or other matters covered by the attorney client privilege. Some of legal claims or the position of the public agency and other adversary situations involving the assertion against the agency of a claim. And no action was taken in the session.”

After that announcement, a councilmember moved to adjourn and members agreed; the chair closed the special-call meeting.

The executive session was held under the committee’s authority to meet privately for attorney-client privileged discussions about legal claims. No public details were disclosed about the substance of the legal advice, and meeting participants stated explicitly that no formal action resulted from the closed session.