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Counsel cites Open Meeting Act as basis for emergency session over time-sensitive offer
Summary
General Counsel read statutory authority (25 O.S. § 311(A)(13)) and said a settlement offer tied to a hearing the next day required prompt Board review; the Commission entered executive session under 25 O.S. § 307(B)(4).
At an emergency Feb. 19 meeting, General Counsel Perry Tirrell told the Commissioners the Open Meeting Act permits emergency meetings when circumstances make standard special-meeting notice impracticable, citing 25 O.S. § 311(A)(13).
Tirrell said the board had received a resolution offer Tuesday midday that was "time sensitive as relating to a hearing in this case scheduled for tomorrow," and that he was "ethically obligated to bring any resolution offer to the board for review and consideration." The Commission voted first to find that disclosure would impair its handling of the claim and then unanimously voted to enter executive session under 25 O.S. § 307(B)(4).
After executive session, the board returned to open session and voted to accept the settlement recommendation. Tirrell said staff posted notice approximately 24 hours earlier by their standard methods (Secretary of State, website, physical posting).
