Columbus County commissioners recess into closed session citing N.C. statute on attorney‑client and personnel matters

The Columbus County Board of Commissioners recessed its public meeting and entered a closed session to discuss attorney‑client privileged matters and personnel, a presiding official said during the meeting.

The presiding official asked for a motion ‘‘to recess . . . and enter and close session in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11’’ to address attorney‑client privilege and personnel matters, according to the meeting transcript. Commissioner Watts moved the motion and Commissioner Bullard seconded. When the presiding official asked, "All in favor?" the response was, "Aye." The presiding official then said, "All opposed? We're now in closed session. All mics off, please."

The meeting record available in the transcript provides no additional public details about the matters to be discussed in closed session, how long the closed session would last, or whether any formal action would be taken after the closed session concluded. The transcript also does not provide the presiding official's name or the meeting date and time beyond the audio timestamps.

Local statute cited in the motion, North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11, is commonly referenced by public bodies when meeting in closed session for specified purposes such as attorney‑client consultations and personnel matters; the transcript shows the statute number was invoked as the legal authority for the closed session but does not include further statutory subsections or legal text from the statute.

The motion to enter closed session was moved by Commissioner Watts and seconded by Commissioner Bullard, and the presiding official indicated the motion carried; the public portion of the meeting was then recessed and microphones were turned off as the board moved into closed session.