Imperial County supervisors convene closed session, give direction on multiple legal and personnel matters; no reportable actions

The Imperial County Board of Supervisors voted Sept. 3 to convene a closed session to consult with legal counsel about pending litigation, consider public-employee appointments and discuss labor negotiations; the board reported that it gave direction in closed session but that no reportable action was taken.

The board, meeting in a special session, approved the motion to go into closed session after a roll call. The motion to convene was recorded as moved by Supervisor Cardenas Singh and seconded by Supervisor Jesus Alar Escobar; the board chair announced the motion carried.

In a public report after the closed session, a staff member read that the board met regarding existing litigation under Government Code 54956.9(d)(1). The report said the board did not discuss Comite Civico del Valle in Earthworks v. County of Imperial (Imperial County Superior Court case number ECU 3425) and that it did discuss Acosta v. County of Imperial et al. (case number ECU 4161); the report said direction was given in the Acosta matter and no reportable action was taken.

The report also said the board did not discuss Alvarez v. County of Imperial (case number reported as ECU 004112) and that it discussed Teresa Verdusco v. County of Imperial et al. (case number reported as ECU 003583); direction was given in the Verdusco matter and no reportable action was taken.

The staff report stated the board met in closed session to consider anticipated litigation—"significant exposure to litigation, five matters"—under Government Code 54956.9 and that direction was given with no reportable action.

The board additionally met in closed session on two public-employee appointments under Government Code 54957(b)(1). The report identified the titles under consideration as Human Resources Director and County Counsel; in both matters the report said direction was given and no reportable action was taken.

Finally, the board met with labor negotiators under Government Code 54957.6; the staff report said direction was given and no reportable action was taken. The report referenced an individual named Jackson in the context of that negotiator discussion.

The board returned to open session at about 12:45 p.m. and the chair acknowledged the closed-session report. No motions or votes on the litigation matters, appointments or negotiations were reported out of closed session.

The public record from the meeting therefore shows only the board's vote to convene closed session and a staff report describing which matters were discussed, which were not, and that the board provided direction without taking reportable action.