Livingston council pulls litigation item and moves into closed session on labor talks

The Livingston City Council on May 5 pulled a planned closed-session item about potential litigation and instead entered closed session to discuss labor negotiations with the city—s labor negotiator.

Mayor Moran opened the special meeting at 6:07 p.m., called the roll and noted that Council member Wallace was not in attendance. A meeting participant led the Pledge of Allegiance and the mayor asked for a moment of silence for first responders and military members.

"Before going out to public comment, staff would recommend pulling item number 7 on the closed session agenda," a staff member said. Mayor Moran agreed, citing a lack of quorum to address that litigation matter at this meeting.

Mayor Moran then opened public comment on item 6, asked whether anyone was on the phone or in the chamber and, after hearing none, closed public comment at 6:09 p.m. "At this time, 06:09, I will . . . go out for public comment in regards to item number 6 under closed session," the mayor said before the council recessed to closed session.

The council entered closed session on item 6, described on the agenda as a conference with the labor negotiator, identifying Jose Antonio Ramirez as the city manager and labor negotiator and listing employee organizations including the clerical bargaining unit, police supervisory employees and the Livingston Police Officers Association. Item 7, described on the agenda as significant exposure to litigation under state law, was removed from the closed-session agenda due to the quorum issue.

No public votes or further public discussion of the closed-session items are recorded in the transcript. The meeting record shows the council moved into closed session at 6:09 p.m.; no outcomes of that closed session are reported in the public transcript.