Commission votes to close special meeting to discuss litigation strategy over 1983 claims

The commission convened a special meeting at 2:00 p.m. on March 30 and voted to close the meeting to discuss litigation strategy related to claims against the county dating to 1983. The presiding officer called the meeting to order and led the opening procedures, including the Pledge of Allegiance.

A staff member advised the commission that the matter involved individuals suing the county from claims dated to 1983 and that discussion should occur in closed session "pursuant to the litigation strategy exception to the open meetings requirement," according to the transcript. After that explanation the presiding officer asked for a motion to close the meeting. A commissioner said, "I move to close the meeting," and another commissioner said, "I will second that." The presiding officer called for those in favor to signify by saying "I," and then stated that the meeting would be closed.

The transcript does not identify by name the presiding officer or the commissioners who moved or seconded the motion; participants who spoke on the record are recorded by functional role in the transcript. The record shows a voice vote was taken and the chair concluded that the motion passed and the meeting was closed for litigation strategy discussion. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally, individual votes, or any further details about the claims themselves.

The action was taken under the stated authority of the "open meetings requirement," as described on the record, and the stated basis was litigation strategy involving county claims. No additional substantive discussion or documents about the underlying claims appear in the provided transcript excerpt. The meeting then proceeded to close under the stated exception.