Thornton council goes into executive session to discuss cybersecurity under Colorado law

Thornton City Council voted Wednesday to enter an executive session to discuss specialized details of the city's cybersecurity arrangements and investigations under Colorado law.

City staff said the topic falls within an exception that permits closed‑door discussion of security measures. “This executive session is to discuss cybersecurity concerns with regard to our IT systems and our computers, and we are allowed to do that in executive session under state law so that folks do not understand our security measures and are able to more easily attack our systems,” a staff member said during the meeting.

City legal staff read the executive session motion into the record citing the applicable Colorado statute: “A motion to go into executive session pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes 24‑6‑402(4)(d) to discuss specialized details of the city's cybersecurity arrangements and investigations where disclosure of the matters discussed might reveal information that could be used for the purpose of committing or avoiding prosecution for a violation of the law,” the reading stated.

A councilmember moved “as stated” and a second was recorded. The chair called for a vote: “All in favor, please say yes.” Council members responded “Yes,” and the meeting moved to executive session. The minutes show a unanimous voice vote in favor in open session; no council discussion of cybersecurity details occurred in open session after the vote.

The council recessed to executive session and the mayor, who was participating remotely, signed off before the closed session.