Takoma Park council votes to enter closed session over Cooper v. City of Takoma Park audit

The Takoma Park City Council voted to meet in closed session to "hear an update from the attorney conducting the audit related to Cooper v. City of Takoma Park," the presiding speaker said during the opening of the meeting. Council member Hansack moved to convene the closed session; Council member Landman seconded, and the motion passed by voice vote after those present responded "aye." The council stated it would not reconvene in public after the closed session.

The council cited Maryland Code, General Provisions Article §3-305(b)(1), which covers personnel matters that may affect one or more individuals, and §3-305(b)(7), which permits consultation with legal counsel about pending or potential litigation. The presiding speaker told the body the closed session was specifically to hear the attorney's update on the audit connected to Cooper v. City of Takoma Park; no further public details about the audit were provided in the meeting transcript.

During roll call the clerk recorded Mayor Searcy, Council member Landman, Council member Bridal, Council member Schlegel, Council member Gilbert and Council member Hansack as present. Council member Weselek was named during the roll call but did not register a response on the record in the transcript. The voice vote on the motion to enter closed session produced an "aye" response; no opposing votes or abstentions were announced in the transcript and individual tallies were not recorded.

The decision to meet in closed session invokes exceptions to Maryland's open meetings law for personnel and legal-advice matters. The council did not set a public reconvening time and stated it would not return to public session after the closed meeting. The transcript contains no further public discussion of the audit's substance or schedule for future public updates.

The council moved into closed session at the end of the recorded proceedings.