Tompkins County Legislature votes to enter executive session on potential property or securities transaction

The Tompkins County Legislature on Tuesday voted to enter an executive session to discuss a potential acquisition, sale or lease of real property and related securities matters, saying publicity could affect the value of the assets under consideration.

The motion to go into executive session was announced by the presiding speaker as "the proposed acquisition, sell, or lease of real property or the proposed acquisition of securities or seller exchange of securities held by such public body, but only when publicity would substantially affect the value thereof." The motion was moved by Legislator Deborah Dawson and seconded by Legislator Lee Shurtleff.

In a roll-call vote conducted at the meeting, 15 legislators present voted in favor; no 'no' votes or abstentions were recorded among voting members. Legislator Greg Mezey, who joined the meeting by Zoom, was noted as present but not permitted to vote under the legislature's rules. The roll call included Travis Brooks, Randy Brown, Deborah Dawson, Judith Hubbard, John Hunt, Rachel Ostlund, Iris Pacman, Veronica Pillar, Leigh/Lee Shirtliff, Mike Sigler, Adam Vincent, Dan Wakeman, Irene Weiser, Christy Bianconi/Bianconi, and Donna/Shauna Black (all recorded as voting in the affirmative in the meeting record).

After the vote, members recessed and went off air for the executive session; a 15-minute recess was announced and staff indicated they would briefly go off air and confirm when the session was non-live.

The record does not include details of the property or securities under consideration or any formal action taken in executive session; the transcript indicates only the legislature's approval to meet in executive session. The legislature is expected to reconvene in public session after the executive session, but no further public actions were recorded in the provided transcript.