Oro Valley Town Council approves direction to town attorney after closed interviews, votes 6-0

Oro Valley — The Oro Valley Town Council met in a special session on Dec. 11 and, following private interviews of town attorney candidates in executive session, voted unanimously to proceed as directed in that closed session.

Mayor Winfield convened the special session and asked Mister Standish to call the roll; six of seven council members were present, with Council member Green noted as unable to join. The council cited an executive-session item "Pursuant to ARS 38 dash 4 31.0311 and a 3 for personnel matters to interview town attorney candidates," then voted to go into executive session. "I move to go into executive session with the human resources director, town attorney, and the town clerk," Mayor Winfield said; the motion passed by voice vote, recorded as 6-0.

Council recessed the executive session until 1:45 p.m. to allow members time for lunch before resuming candidate interviews. When the body reconvened the special session, the council took up item 1 on the special-session agenda: "Approval of any direction to the town attorney and or necessary staff as discussed [in] executive session pertaining to the town attorney search." Mayor Winfield moved to "proceed as directed in executive session;" the motion was seconded and again passed 6-0.

The session concluded with a motion to adjourn, seconded by Council member Jones Ivy and approved by the council. No public debate, detailed candidate names, or personnel decisions were recorded on the public record in the transcript beyond the procedural votes and the stated statutory basis for the closed session.

The council undertook its interviews and internal direction during a closed personnel session. The council’s public actions were limited to authorizing the direction developed during that closed session and then adjourning.