Executive sessions have a role but they should be minimal
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A few weeks ago, shortly after the Trump administration bombed Syria, another country wanted to discuss Syria and issues related to the country at the United Nations.
It was a fairly typical request with an unusual ending. The meeting was requested behind closed doors, but the United States had others ideas. In charge for a month, the United States simply said no — not the meeting, but the request to meet in private.
It was a very unusual move by any government entity at any level. It reminded me of a time I covered a county in Texas and the county judge, basically the chair of the county board, simply refused to allow executive sessions. He was so adamant about meeting in public, he got in trouble sometimes because he held public meeting when state law allowed them to be private.
Then last week, I received the summary of the Page City Council meeting. At the meeting, the council approved a liquor license, renewed the city’s membership in the Rural Arizona Group Health Trust and proclaimed National Telecommunicator Week.
And they went into executive session three times. State law allows city councils to go into executive session for a variety of reasons. Behind closed doors and away from the public, they are allowed to discuss issues. But they cannot vote or make final decisions until they are in public.
Last week, the council went into executive session for the following reasons:
• To discuss a skydiving liability negotiations with the city attorney
• To discuss a contract with Republic Services for a fee increase