At a meeting in Harpers Ferry, members unanimously approved the meeting agenda, voted to move into executive session under a West Virginia statute covering personnel matters, and approved payment of accumulated paid time off for a Class 1 water operator who was terminated on Dec. 8. The meeting ended at 9:19 a.m.

"I move to pass the agenda as presented," said Unidentified Speaker 3, who made the motion to adopt the agenda; an Unidentified Speaker 1 seconded the motion. The chair conducted a roll-call vote; Jesse, Christian, Chris and the chair voted in favor, producing a unanimous approval.

Shortly afterward, meeting leadership said counsel should read the statutory basis for closing the public session. As read aloud, "It says matters arising from the appointment, employment, retirement, promotion, transfer, demotion, disciplining, resignation, discharge, dismissal, or compensation of a public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee" may be discussed in executive session unless the affected person requests an open meeting, a passage cited during the discussion referring to West Virginia Code 69A4.

The body voted on moving into executive session under that citation. The chair called the roll; Jesse, Christian, Chris and the chair voted yes. The chair announced the executive session would begin at approximately 9:08 a.m. and authorized the finance officer and the public works administrator to remain in the room for the executive session.

After returning to the public meeting, Unidentified Speaker 3 moved "to disperse the accumulated paid time off for the class 1 water operator terminated on December 8." The motion was seconded and approved on a roll-call vote: Chris voted "Aye," Christian and Jesse voted yes, and the chair cast a yes vote. The chair announced the motion carried 4-0.

An Unidentified Speaker moved to adjourn; the motion was seconded and carried by roll call. The chair announced the meeting was adjourned at 09:19 a.m. Participants exchanged holiday greetings as the session ended.

No additional details about the terminated employee's separation, the amount of paid time off dispersed, or any related personnel paperwork were provided in the meeting record.