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Council discloses vote to withdraw from opioid‑litigation pool; executive session minutes sealed
Summary
After an executive session on litigation, the Burrillville Town Council disclosed that it voted to withdraw from a pooled opioid litigation effort and authorized the town solicitor to take related actions. The council also voted to seal the executive session minutes.
Council discloses withdrawal from opioid litigation pool
Following an executive session April 9 held under Rhode Island’s open‑meetings law, the Burrillville Town Council disclosed it had taken one vote in executive session: to withdraw from the opioid‑litigation pool and to authorize the town solicitor to proceed as appropriate.
Why it matters: Participation in pooled litigation can affect municipal legal strategy and potential recoveries; withdrawing from a pooled approach may change how litigation is handled and how any future recoveries are pursued.
The public agenda item cited the Rhode Island Open Meetings Law (transcript reference to "subsection 40 two‑forty six‑five 82") as the authority for entering executive session to discuss pending litigation including Roberta Lacey v. Donna Virgil and matters related to opioid litigation. After the executive session, the council voted to seal the executive session minutes and later voted to disclose that the single vote taken in executive session authorized withdrawal from the opioid litigation pool and authorization for the solicitor to act.
Action taken: The council voted to seal the executive session minutes and, by separate motion, disclosed that the single vote taken was to withdraw from the opioid litigation pool and to authorize the solicitor to proceed. The motions passed by voice vote.
Next steps: The council authorized the solicitor to carry out the withdrawal and related steps; no further details were released in open session.
