Ohio City Council adjourns to closed session; council member announces recusal, special counsel reports no reportable action

The Ohio City Council on Tuesday approved adjourning to a closed session and later heard a brief report that no reportable action resulted from the closed deliberations.

The special meeting opened with roll call, during which the clerk named Mayor Gilman, Mayor Pro Tem Maine and council members Ruhl, Lang and Whitman as present. After the Pledge of Allegiance, the presiding officer asked if there were objections to the closed-session agenda; a council member moved approval and the presiding officer seconded the motion, which advanced the council into closed session. The clerk said no public comments had been received and that there were no Zoom attendees.

The closed session included a recusal announcement from a council member, who said their prior city attorney had advised they should be recused because of involvement in litigation and that they would not participate that evening. "Our prior city attorney thought that I should be recused, because of involvement in the litigation, and so I'm not gonna be participating tonight," the council member said.

After the closed session, the presiding officer asked Harvey for a report out. Harvey said, "The city council received an update from special counsel in closed session, and there is no reportable action this evening." The council then adjourned the closed session.

No ordinances, resolutions or other formal actions requiring a public record were reported as a result of the closed session. The record in the meeting transcript shows the council moved to close and later reconvened only to receive the short statement from Harvey and adjourn.