Middletown council recesses open session to executive session on bargaining, land acquisition and personnel

The Town of Middletown Town Council recessed its open meeting and reconvened in executive session to discuss collective bargaining, land acquisition on West Main Road and personnel matters, council members said.

Council members cited Rhode Island General Laws §§ 42-46-2, 42-46-4 and 42-46-5(a)(2) as authority for the closed session; the meeting record notes the town administrator, Sean Brown, was notified in writing under R.I. Gen. Laws 42-46-5(a)(1).

During roll call the record shows Council President Paul M. Roderick, Vice President Thomas B. (last name not specified in the transcript), Councilor Peter D. Connorton Sr., Councilor Christopher M. Logan, Councilor Charles R. Roberts, Councilor Dennis B. (last name not specified in the transcript) and Councilor Barbara Avon Villas as present. After the council read the cited statute sections, a motion was made to recess the open session and reconvene in executive session; the transcript does not record who moved or seconded the motion, nor does it include a roll-call vote or tally.

The transcript excerpts supplied end as the council prepared to enter executive session; no substantive discussion of the bargaining, land acquisition or personnel topics appears in the supplied text. Any deliberations or decisions taken in the executive session are not included in the public portion of the transcript and would be reflected, if required, in future minutes or public actions upon reconvening.

The council also opened the meeting with the pledge of allegiance and established a quorum before moving to the executive session.

Future public records or subsequent meeting minutes may disclose outcomes or formal actions if the council returns to open session and takes public action on items considered in executive session.