The Sussex County Board of County Commissioners at a special meeting on Sept. 4, 2025, in Newton read a resolution to move into an executive (closed) session to discuss three topics: a collective bargaining matter involving the PBA, litigation and negotiations, and employment/personnel matters. The board approved the meeting agenda earlier in the public portion of the meeting by voice vote.

The resolution was read aloud in the meeting room at the Sussex County Administrative Center and cited the Open Public Meetings Act (P.L. 1975, c. 231) and the statutory provisions NJSA 10:4-12 and NJSA 10:4-13 that permit closed sessions. The resolution listed “Item number 4, matters relating to the collective bargaining agreements, PBA,” “Item number 7, matters relating to the litigation, negotiations, and the attorney-client privilege negotiations,” and “Item number 8, matters relating to the employment relationship personnel.” The text of the resolution as read states that deliberations conducted in closed session may be disclosed later if the board determines confidentiality is no longer required or disclosure is mandated by law.

Commissioner Hammes moved to approve the meeting agenda; Commissioner Hayden seconded the motion. The board took a voice vote with members answering “Aye.” No individual roll-call votes were recorded in the transcript excerpt; Commissioner DeGroot was listed as absent during roll call. Director Carney, Deputy Director Space, Commissioner Hayden and Commissioner Henderson were recorded present in roll call.

During the reading of the executive-session resolution, a speaker requested that item 7 be amended to separate what would be discussed into three distinct matters. The speaker said, “If I may, 7 needs to be amended. They’re actually, we’re gonna be talking about 3 things. So negotiations, litigation and matters pertaining to the … groups. 3 separate items.” That amendment request was noted on the record; no formal amendment vote or final adoption of the executive-session resolution is recorded in the available transcript.

No other public actions, votes or substantive policy decisions were recorded in the provided transcript excerpt. The resolution language indicates the board may take formal action after an executive session but the transcript ends before any final vote on the executive-session resolution or any subsequent executive-session action is recorded.

The meeting opened at the stated time of 4 p.m.; the public portion included the pledge of allegiance and a public statement confirming compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. The transcript segment ends as commissioners continued the procedural steps to enter executive session.

The board did not provide additional detail in the public portion about the specific content, parties, dollar amounts, case names, employee names or schedules for those executive-session items; those details were not specified in the public transcript.

Looking ahead, any formal actions that result from the executive session—such as contract approvals, settlements or personnel actions—would be subject to whatever disclosure the board permits or that state law requires.