Idaho Falls council authorizes HR director to negotiate workers' comp settlement after closed session

The Idaho Falls City Council met in a closed executive session and later authorized staff to negotiate a workers’ compensation settlement. Councilmember Francis moved the executive session under the statutory authority cited in the meeting; the motion passed on a roll‑call vote.Knowing that council would act in open session afterward, council then voted to grant authority to Darren Jones, the city’s human resources director, to negotiate a settlement amount in the workers’ compensation claim brought by Sergio Silva. The motion was seconded and carried on a recorded roll call.The executive session was held under the citation read into the record as "Idaho code section 74‑206(1)(f)" for attorney–client communications related to imminent litigation, per the motion presented to council. After the closed session the council reconvened and recorded the settlement‑authorization vote.Staff did not disclose settlement terms in the public session. The council’s action authorizes negotiation of a settlement, not a finalized payment; any signed agreement will be reflected in future public records or agenda materials.