Woonsocket City Council votes to enter executive session on collective bargaining, litigation

Council President Gendron opened the Woonsocket City Council meeting Wednesday and, after establishing a quorum, called for a vote to move into executive session under Rhode Island General Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2), which covers "sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation." "First item on the agenda is a vote to go into executive session under Rhode Island General Law 42 dash 46 dash 5 a 2, sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation," Gendron said.

Councilman Kenoyer moved to enter executive session; Councilwoman Sierra seconded the motion. The council approved the motion unanimously in a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded the vote as: Councilman Kenoyer — yes; Councilman Dubois — yes; Councilwoman Fox — aye; Councilwoman Sierra — yes; Council President Gendron — yes. After the vote, Gendron said, "And we are in executive session. If you can give us a minute to silence all of the electronics."

The public transcript records only the motion, the second and the unanimous vote to enter executive session; it does not include any details of the matters to be discussed in closed session. Rhode Island General Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) permits a public body to close a meeting for discussions on collective bargaining or litigation, but the transcript does not identify which of those topics — or specific cases or negotiations — the council intended to consider.

The council recessed into executive session immediately following the vote. No additional public actions or follow-up steps were recorded in the portion of the meeting available in the transcript.