Howard County council votes to close special meeting for personnel appointment

Howard County council members voted unanimously to close a special meeting to discuss a personnel matter, citing the Annotated Code of Maryland §3-305(b)(1).

The presiding official moved “that this meeting be closed in accordance with section 3 3 0 5 b 1 of the general provisions article of the Annotated Code of Maryland to discuss a personnel matter,” adding that the topic was the appointment of one or more specific employees. Another member seconded the motion. When asked whether there were objections to proceeding to closed session, none were voiced.

By roll call, Chair Walsh and council members Doctor Jones, Miss Young, Miss Rigby and Mister Youngman voted yes and the motion to close the meeting passed. The presiding official then adjourned the special meeting for the closed session and said no further business would take place after the closed session.

The council announced it would reconvene at 7:00 p.m. in the Banneker Room for the urban renewal and January legislative public hearing. The livestream of the special meeting was ended and the recording stopped.

No other substantive public business or debate on the personnel matter was recorded in the public portion of the meeting. The statute cited in public remarks — Annotated Code of Maryland, General Provisions Article §3-305(b)(1) — provides an exception allowing governmental bodies to close a meeting to discuss certain personnel matters; the transcript records the council invoking that provision but does not record any discussion of the personnel subject in open session.