Middletown council recesses to executive session citing collective bargaining, litigation and land matters

At the opening of the meeting, the Town of Middletown council voted to recess its public session and reconvene in executive session under Rhode Island law to discuss labor and legal matters. An unidentified council member moved "Motion recess open session, reconvene in executive session," and the motion was seconded and approved with ayes recorded; names were not stated on the record.

The speaker cited statutory authority for closing the meeting to the public, listing Rhode Island General Laws §§ 42-46-2, 42-46-4 and 42-46-5. The topics the council said it would address behind closed doors were collective bargaining with firefighters; pending litigation identified in the transcript as "n c 20 25 dash 0 1 9 4"; a tax appeal; land acquisition related to West Main Road; and a potential lease concerning Newport Vineyards. The transcript records the council chair or presiding speaker asking "All in favor?" and multiple members responding "Aye."

Council members were present for roll call before the action: Council President Paul M. Roderick; Vice President Thomas P. Welch III; Councilor Peter D. Connerton Sr.; Councilor Christopher M. Logan; Councilor Charles R. Roberts; Councilor Dennis B. Toronto; and Councilor Barbara Avon Villas. The meeting leader confirmed a quorum prior to the motion.

The record does not state detailed descriptions or staff reports on the listed topics, nor does it provide a full roll-call vote with individual vote names tied to the motion in the public transcript segment. The council recessed into executive session at the direction of the motion; no further public deliberations on those topics are recorded in the provided transcript segment.

The council's next public step or the timing of any subsequent public vote was not specified in the excerpt provided.