Osage Beach Board of Aldermen votes to enter executive session citing RSMO statute

At the meeting, the chair announced that the agenda included a roll-call vote to close the public session and enter an executive session under a Missouri statute cited in the transcript.

The chair said, "Notice is given that the agenda includes a roll call vote to close the meeting as allowed by RSMO section 6 10.0211," and described the matters as involving "legal actions, causes of action, or litigation involving a governmental body, and any confidential or privileged communications between a public governmental body or body or its representatives and its attorneys," and later referenced leasing, purchase or sale of real estate.

The chair asked, "Do I have a motion to move into executive session?" Alderman Rose moved to enter executive session; a second was recorded on the record though the transcript does not name the seconder. The clerk then conducted a roll-call vote. The transcript records affirmative votes from Alderman Osteen, Alderman Rose, Alderman Collins, Alderman Barela, Alderman Recker and Alderman Hoffman. Following the vote the chair said, "This meeting is adjourned. Head to executive session."

Why it matters: Under Missouri statutes governing local-government meetings, governing bodies may close a public meeting to discuss certain categories of business, including pending or threatened litigation and some real-estate negotiations. The board’s action moved deliberations on those topics out of public view.

The article reports only what the meeting transcript contains: the chair’s announcement of the statutory basis for a closed session, the motion to adjourn into executive session, the roll-call vote showing the recorded affirmative votes, and the chair’s direction to proceed to executive session. The transcript contains variations in the spelling and citation of the statute (appearing as "RSMO section 6 10.0211" and, separately, "Resmo section 6 10.021"); the article reproduces the statute string as quoted in the meeting and notes the transcript inconsistency. The transcript also shows the name "Rucker" earlier in roll call and "Recker" when votes were recorded; the vote list above follows the names as spoken during the recorded roll-call vote.