Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Executive Session Property Acquisition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board votes to enter executive session under M.G.L. c.30A §21 to discuss potential property acquisition
Summary
The town board voted unanimously to enter executive session under Massachusetts open-meeting law exemption 6 to discuss possible property acquisition and announced it would not return to open session; the chair cited a risk that public discussion would harm the town’s negotiating position.
During its meeting, the town board voted unanimously to enter executive session under M.G.L. c.30A, §21, exemption 6, to discuss a potential property acquisition and said it would not return to open session. The chair said an open meeting "may have a detrimental effect on the town's position" before asking for a motion to move into executive session.
Al, a board member, made the motion to enter executive session; Paul, a board member, seconded. The roll call recorded Paul, Ellen, Al and Doug voting "aye." No public substantive discussion of the property occurred in open session; the vote was procedural to allow a closed-door discussion permitted under the statute cited.
The chair framed the action as an application of the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law provision for exemption 6, which allows closed sessions for purchase, lease, or value of real property when public discussion could harm the municipality's negotiating position. After the vote, the chair stopped the recording and the board moved into executive session without returning to open session.
The vote and the statutory citation were the only substantive items recorded in the provided transcript excerpt; no additional details about the property, purchase terms, timeline, or subsequent public actions were stated in open session.
