Board schedules executive session to review late medical records for Officer De Benedetti

The Town of Merrillville meeting was called to order at 12:32 p.m., and board members moved and approved a reconvened executive session to review newly received medical records related to Officer De Benedetti.

During the meeting, Speaker 1 told the board that they had met earlier in an 11:00 a.m. executive session and that "we received some late medical records from Officer De Benedetti." Speaker 2 then formally moved "that we reconvene during the annual meeting on Tuesday, 02/17/2026, for an executive session at 10AM to discuss the additional documents that were provided today by Officer D Benedetti." Speaker 1 seconded the motion, and the board voted with all recorded responses "Aye." The motion passed.

Speaker 2 framed the reconvened session as time for the attorney and board to review material "to support Officer Benedetti's claim of disability." Attorney Alan Koos was present for the meeting. During the roll call, Speaker 1 confirmed the presence of Trustee Menchuck, Trustee Cooper, Trustee Diehl and Trustee Burzak.

After the vote on scheduling the reconvened executive session, Speaker 2 moved to adjourn, Speaker 1 seconded, and the meeting was adjourned at 12:34 p.m. Ashley Deal was named during the wrap-up as an attendee.

No additional public testimony or formal findings about the medical records or Officer De Benedetti's claim were made on the record during this meeting; the board took only the scheduling action and a procedural adjournment. The reconvened executive session is scheduled for Feb. 17, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. during the annual meeting.