Lincoln Town Council convenes special meeting, enters executive session on potential litigation and seals minutes

The Lincoln Town Council convened a special meeting and voted to enter executive session to discuss potential litigation under "Rhode Island General Law 42 46 5 8 2." Council members subsequently voted to seal the executive-session minutes under "Rhode Island General Law 42 46 7 c" and directed the town solicitor to act in accordance with the discussion in the closed session.

The meeting chair asked for a motion to adjourn into executive session for potential litigation; Councilman Noni made the motion. The motion was seconded by Councilor Pachette and Councilor Azar. On a roll-call vote, Councilman Noni, Councilor Pachette, Councilor Rizzo, Councilor Russo and the chair voted yes, and the council moved into executive session.

After the executive session the council voted to seal the minutes under the statute cited by the chair. The chair solicited a motion to seal the minutes; the motion and second were recorded and, on roll call, Councilman Hone, Councilor Peschett, Councilor Azoff, Councilor Russo and the chair voted yes.

The council also voted to "have the solicitor act as directed" consistent with the executive-session discussion. The chair called for the motion; the transcript records a motion by Councilor Nooney and a second by Councilor Pachet. On roll call, the named members recorded as voting yes included Councilman Pischette, Councilor Azar, Councilor Russo and the chair.

The special meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn by Councilor Maloney, seconded by Councilor Azar; the chair called for those in favor, and the ayes carried.

The meeting record provided no public details of the litigation at issue, no timetable for follow-up, and no additional briefing or documents were referenced in the open portion of the transcript.