Vernon council votes to enter executive session on union talks, then adopts three labor contracts

Vernon Town Council on July 15, 2025 voted to go into executive session under Connecticut General Statute 1-200(6)(d) to discuss contract negotiations and later unanimously adopted three collective bargaining agreements covering multiple town employee groups.

The council went into executive session after a procedural vote that showed divisions among members over whether closed-door negotiations were appropriate when union membership had already voted on the tentative agreements. Councilor Laura Bush moved to adopt the first contract after the executive session; Mary Anne Levesque seconded. All three contracts adopted are effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029.

The debate before the executive session centered on whether the town had a legitimate negotiating strategy to protect by closing the meeting. John W. Kleinhands, town administrator, said the briefing and assessment the administration provides to the council is “the very definition of strategizing,” and that officials needed the closed session to explain negotiating positions and outcomes. Councilor Phyllis (last name not provided) argued the town should follow open-government rules unless there is a clear need to reopen negotiations, saying, “FOI law is very clear about this. ... It makes no sense to me at all.” Mary Anne Levesque defended closed deliberations for bargaining, telling colleagues, “So when you're looking at a new version of it, you're looking for improvement for our workers. ... That's best done behind closed doors before we bring the finished product out for the final vote.”

The council’s earlier motion to enter executive session—read citing Connecticut General Statute 1-200(6)(d) and inviting Town Administrator John W. Kleinhands and Assistant Town Administrator Don Masalek to attend—was seconded by Jim and passed by the recorded voice vote reported as eight in favor, one opposed and three abstentions. After the executive session, the council approved: - A collective bargaining agreement between the Town of Vernon and professional employees represented by Local 818 of Council 4 AFSCME AFL-CIO, effective 07/01/2025–06/30/2029 (moved by Laura Bush; seconded by Mary Anne Levesque; vote: unanimous). - A collective bargaining agreement with the directors’ independent unit, effective 07/01/2025–06/30/2029 (moved by Andrew; seconded by Terry; vote: unanimous). - A collective bargaining agreement with Local 1471 of Council 4 AFSCME AFL-CIO, effective 07/01/2025–06/30/2029 (moved by Mary Anne Levesque; seconded by John; vote: unanimous).

Councilors who argued for closed deliberations said that discussing negotiating positions in public would undercut future bargaining. Those who opposed or questioned the executive session urged a simple preliminary question—whether any councilor sought to reopen negotiations—before moving into a closed door. The council’s final adoption of the three agreements means the contracts will be available publicly after approval under the town’s usual posting practices.

The actions followed about an hour of back-and-forth on the floor about procedure, transparency and the line between administrative strategy and public updates.