Westfield council votes to enter private session to discuss Saks bankruptcy and related negotiations

The Westfield Town Council voted to enter an executive session to discuss pending or anticipated litigation and contract negotiation related to the Saks bankruptcy and redevelopment matters.

Mayor Burbank notified the council and public that the council would meet with the town's redevelopment attorneys and a bankruptcy law partner in a closed session. "The council remains focused on protecting the town's fiscal health, limiting risk to taxpayers and ensuring that any outcome is realistic, sustainable and aligned with the long term interests of our community," Mayor Burbank said. He added that additional information will be shared "as it is legally appropriate to do so."

The council approved a resolution invoking the Open Public Meetings Act to permit confidentiality for those discussions and directed that minutes be kept on file with the municipal clerk and released when confidentiality is no longer required. The resolution specified the session would cover "pending or anticipated litigation or contract negotiation" and noted the public body may be or may become a party to those matters. After the vote, the mayor advised that the council would conduct no further public business following the executive session other than adjournment.

The decision to move into executive session follows earlier remarks by the mayor noting the town is monitoring developments in the Saks bankruptcy and that council members have discussed the filing. The meeting did not record any public deliberation on settlement positions or contractual terms in open session; such details, if recorded, will remain confidential until law or council policy permits release.