Garner attorney reviews rules and code of conduct; council holds closed session on litigation

Town attorney Terry Jones reviewed the Garner Town Council’s rules of procedure and the town’s code of conduct at the Dec. 2 organizational meeting, recommending minor "cleanup" changes to the closed-session language to better align council rules with state law and inviting council members to submit suggested edits for future formal consideration.

"They are based on the model rules suggested by the University of North Carolina School of Government," Jones said, noting the rules were adopted in 2022. On the code of conduct, Jones reminded the council of the statutory requirements that local governing boards must follow, including obedience to applicable laws and conducting business in an open and public manner.

Council member Damien Dellinger raised concerns about potential First Amendment conflicts in parts of the code and said he would supply a memo identifying sections he believes need revision. "I'll send you a memo on the sections I think that need to be addressed with regards to First Amendment," he said.

Later in the meeting the council voted to enter a closed session to consult with the town attorney regarding litigation or settlement of a claim, citing the statutory basis for the session. After returning to open session, Jones reported the council had received an update on pending litigation and claims against the town and said no votes or official actions were taken during the closed session.

The attorney’s presentation did not produce immediate changes; Jones said he would draft formal revisions for council consideration at a later meeting.