The Town of Middletown Council read statutory authority for a closed executive session and voted to recess the open meeting to discuss collective bargaining issues, including Teamsters negotiations and a Council 94 custodian contract associated with West Main Road.

At the start of the meeting a speaker read that the executive session was being called pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws sections 42-46-2, 42-46-4 and 42-46-5(a), then listed "collective bargaining Teamsters" and "Council 94 custodian contract in West Main Road" as topics to be discussed in closed session. Later in the meeting an unidentified speaker moved to recess the open session and reconvene in executive session; council members voted "Aye," and the motion passed.

Why it matters: Collective bargaining and personnel contract discussions are typically handled in closed session under state law; the council cited the specific Rhode Island statutes authorizing the closed meeting.

What happened next: The council recessed the public meeting into executive session. No details of bargaining positions, contract terms, or staff recommendations were disclosed in the public record excerpt.