Town of Middletown Council recesses open session to hold executive session on collective bargaining, potential litigation and West Main Road lease/MOU

At its meeting, the Town of Middletown Council voted to recess the open session and reconvene in executive session to discuss collective bargaining, potential litigation and a lease or memorandum of understanding concerning West Main Road.

The council president (name not provided) read the motion and cited Rhode Island General Laws as the legal authority for entering executive session, noting the stated purposes as “collective bargaining,” “potential litigation” and “lease, slash memorandum of memorandum of understanding West Main Road.” The president then moved “to recess open session, reconvene in executive session.” The motion was seconded, and the president called for a voice vote: “All in favor. Aye.”

A quorum was established before the motion. Vice President Thomas P. Welch III and Councilors Peter D. Connerton Sr., Christopher M. Logan, Charles R. Roberts, Dennis B. Toronto and Barbara Avon Villas (as stated in the meeting) were recorded present during roll call. No further public details about the subjects slated for executive session were provided in the open portion of the meeting.

Because the council invoked executive-session authority under state law, the specific substance of the collective-bargaining and litigation matters and the terms or parties related to the West Main Road lease or memorandum of understanding were not discussed on the public record. The council recessed into executive session after the voice vote; additional actions, if any, were not announced in the public portion of the meeting.