Warren County treasurer asks to review report before release; board votes to enter executive session

Warren County Treasurer Christine Norton asked the board on the record when a report would be released and whether she would have an opportunity to respond before publication, prompting a brief debate over transparency and legal confidentiality.

Norton told the board she knew members planned to go into executive session and asked, "When the report will be released? And if it's going to be released, will I have the opportunity to respond to it before it is released?" She said she wanted that opportunity "on the record." A committee member objected to using executive session for matters tied to the report, saying the document "should be very transparent" for Warren County residents and stating they would vote against closure if the motion limited release.

The presiding official then moved to enter executive session "pursuant to Section 105 of the New York Open Meetings Law" so the county attorney could provide attorney-client communications regarding reports authorized by "resolution 16" and two other resolutions referenced in the record. A staff member who read the statute explained that subsection c covers information on ongoing criminal investigations that could impair law enforcement if disclosed and that subsection f covers certain personnel, medical, financial or employment records; the speaker said there was an ongoing criminal investigation that warranted private discussion.

After a short exchange about transparency versus legal risk, the board voted to enter executive session. The transcript records the ayes and the chair's announcement "We are in executive session," but it does not provide a roll-call tally or identify the mover and seconder unambiguously in the audio record.

No formal action about releasing the report or any schedule for public disclosure was recorded before the meeting moved into executive session.