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La Plata council votes 4-1 to enter closed session over personnel matter and pending MDE litigation
Summary
At its Sept. 23 meeting the Town of La Plata Council voted 4-1 to close part of its meeting under Maryland's Open Meetings Act to consult with counsel on personnel and pending Maryland Department of Environment litigation; Councilman Patrick McCormick recorded a public dissent.
The Town of La Plata Council voted 4-1 on Sept. 23 to hold a closed session to consult with legal counsel on personnel and administrative matters and to discuss pending litigation involving the Maryland Department of Environment.
Mayor Pro Tem Taishan C. Johnson announced the council would disclose the closed-session reasons under the Maryland Open Meetings Act and read statutory authority into the record. The motion described two grounds under the General Provisions Article: consultation with legal counsel to obtain legal advice on personnel and administrative matters under section 3-305(b)(7), and consultation about pending or potential litigation under section 3-305(b)(8) with the topic identified as pending Maryland Department of Environment litigation.
The roll-call vote on the motion to close the session was: Mayor Pro Tem Taishan C. Johnson 'yes'; Councilman Paul C. Guttenberg 'yes'; Councilman Patrick McCormick 'no'; Councilman Gregory Sampson Jr. 'yes'; Mayor Janine E. James 'yes'. The motion passed.
Councilman Patrick McCormick publicly explained his lone "no" vote during the meeting. "I voted no for the first part of why we're going to the closed session. I think that should be discussed on the open record," McCormick said. He added that he believed the second reason for closure (pending litigation) warranted a closed session but wanted the public to understand that his objection related to the personnel consultation portion.
Councilman Paul C. Guttenberg said he supported the closed session because the personnel issues to be discussed involve protections that the council must afford staff and others. "There are personnel matters that have to be protected by the council, due to the unique nature of what we're going to be discussing," Guttenberg said, and the council would address appropriate public disclosure of findings and conduct in a manner protective of staff and public figures.
The meeting agenda and a consent agenda (minutes from Aug. 12 and Aug. 26, 2025) were approved earlier in the meeting; those motions were approved without recorded dissent. The meeting adjourned at 6:37 p.m.
No public comments were presented during the public-comment period; the clerk reported one registrant who did not appear. The council scheduled two upcoming meetings for Oct. 21 and Oct. 28 as announced during the meeting.
