Milford council recesses into executive session to discuss candidate interviews

The Milford Special Council recessed into an executive session on March 3, 2025, after a brief procedural meeting in which no members of the public signed up to speak, council officials said. A councilmember moved to recess into executive session to discuss candidate interviews; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Preple and carried with all members present voting in favor.

The meeting opened at 2 p.m. with the presiding official noting a 15-minute public comment period; "No one's signed up," the presiding official said. With no public commenters present in person or online, the council moved quickly to the closed session motion. "I move to, recess into executive session," a councilmember said; "Motion made. Preple second. All in favour? Aye. Any opposed?" the presiding official asked.

During brief discussion before adjourning, one councilmember argued the council should interview all five applicants, saying, "I think we should interview all 5. It's so small. That's my opinion." The same councilmember later said they would "narrow it down to 3," indicating a change in approach before the executive session. Council members also discussed how to send priority lists: the presiding official asked to receive priorities by email, and another speaker advised against emailing applicants' full names, saying, "I wouldn't email the names."

The presiding official asked staff member Mike to secure the meeting room before the executive session: "Mike, if you could close those doors," the presiding official said. The council later took a motion to adjourn after the closed-session direction was given; the motion to adjourn was made and carried, and the presiding official closed the meeting.

The meeting record does not include substantive public comment or any formal vote on the interview list size; the only recorded formal actions in the open session were the motions to recess into executive session and to adjourn. Details about what occurred during the executive session, including any interview schedule or final candidate decisions, were not disclosed in the public record at the time of the meeting.