The Buncombe County Health & Human Services Board voted to go into closed session to consult with attorneys about legal standards for evaluating potential board members.

Attorney Kurt Euler read the motion authorizing a closed session for the purpose of consulting with counsel to preserve attorney-client privilege and to receive legal advice regarding standards for evaluating potential board members. The motion cited statutory authority for closed sessions under North Carolina law. The chair made the motion and Linda seconded; the board voted to enter closed session by voice/raised hands and the chair said no formal action would be taken while the board is in closed session.

Kurt clarified that both he and another county attorney, Suzanne Abbott, would attend, and the chair specified that only board members, the director (David), the attorneys and the administrative liaison (Krista) would remain in the meeting during the closed session. The board arranged for the livestream host (Johanna) to end the YouTube broadcast while David became meeting host.

Authority cited: board members referenced closed-session authority under North Carolina law; the motion as read referred to the state statute governing closed sessions. (Transcript read the statute aloud in a garbled way; the county cited the statute governing closed sessions under N.C. law and staff later confirmed counsel would advise the board.)

What’s next: The board went into closed session; the chair said the board will return to the public meeting afterward. No votes or other formal actions were reported while the board moved into closed session.