Members approve executive session to discuss collective bargaining with Springfield Education Association

An unidentified member moved that the meeting enter executive session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the Springfield Education Association, citing the statutory exemption for labor negotiations. "I make a motion, mister mayor, that we go into executive session pursuant to mass general laws c 30 a section 21 a 3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining," the mover said.

The motion — which the record shows concerns bargaining demands related to the transition of employees working in ZEP schools to schools under local district control (innovation schools) — was seconded by Miss Gresham. The presiding officer asked the clerk to call the roll for a formal vote.

During the roll call, Miss Valentin, Miss Crawford, Mister Gomez junior, Miss Gresham, Miss Monroe Naylor and Harris Serna voted yes; Miss Hurst was recorded absent. The presiding officer then announced that the matter passes. A statement in the record reads, "Morris Fisher wrote this matter passes." The open meeting recessed to executive session with a scheduled return at 06:30.

The executive session was authorized under Massachusetts General Laws c. 30A, §21(a)(3), which allows a public body to meet in private to discuss strategy for collective bargaining when an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body. No further details of bargaining positions, proposals or outcomes were discussed on the public record during the open session.