Kent County commissioners go into closed session to discuss appointments and staff compensation; authorize director to make offers

The Kent County commissioners voted to go into closed session under the Annotated Code of Maryland, General Provisions Article, Section 3-305 to discuss two personnel matters: recommended appointments to the Economic and Tourism Development Commission and staff compensation.

Clerk/Staff (speaker 4) read the statutory basis aloud, citing the code provision that permits closing a public meeting to discuss appointments and personnel matters when deliberation would involve specific individuals and confidential qualification information.

——"The agenda anticipates a motion to go in a closed session under the Annotated Code of Maryland General Provisions Article Section 3-305 for the following reasons: to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline ... or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials," the staff member read.

After the closed session, the board reported that it had instructed staff to proceed with the appointments discussed and the commissioners voted to allow the county's economic and tourism director to make offers to the candidates identified in closed session. The board also discussed a compensation study and agreed to address outstanding compensation questions during the budget workshop. The commission recorded the motion to enter closed session and the subsequent authorizations by voice vote; no confidential personnel details were disclosed publicly during the meeting.