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Weston Selectboard ratifies past executive sessions after Open Meeting Law complaint
Summary
At a May 6, 2025 special meeting the Weston Selectboard responded to an Open Meeting Law complaint by ratifying executive-session actions taken on Feb. 11, Feb. 25 and March 11, finding each fell under allowable provisions of 1 V.S.A. § 313 and approving amendments to the minutes where needed.
The Weston Selectboard on May 6, 2025 voted to ratify three prior executive-session decisions that had been the subject of an Open Meeting Law complaint filed April 30, 2025. Jim Linville moved to ratify the board's February 11 decision to enter executive session for "the purpose of considering the appointment, employment, or evaluation of a public officer or employee," a motion that was seconded by Linda Saarnijoki and unanimously approved.
Linville told the board the February 11 and February 25 sessions related to vetting candidates for the town's road foreman and road crew, and the board stated those matters fall within 1 V.S.A. § 313(a)(3). Regarding the February 25 meeting, the board acknowledged the minutes did not reflect the vote to enter executive session and moved to amend the February 25, 2025 meeting minutes to accurately reflect that vote; Brian Gehlich seconded the amendment and the motion passed unanimously.
For the March 11 session, the Selectboard said the executive session addressed a delinquent tax matter that implicated probable civil litigation and required attorney-client communication, matters the board said are authorized under 1 V.S.A. § 313. Jim Linville moved to ratify the March 11 decision; Katie Fitzpatrick seconded and the motion was unanimously approved.
All motions on ratification and the minutes amendment were recorded as unanimous. The board's statements repeatedly framed the sessions as falling within the statute's enumerated exceptions while acknowledging shortcomings in how the motions or minutes were recorded.
