Columbus County meeting recesses to closed session citing attorney–client privilege

Unidentified Speaker moved Thursday evening to recess the regular session and enter a closed session "in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143‑318.11," citing attorney–client privilege, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Byrd and Commissioner Coleman. A voice vote followed and those present voiced approval before the meeting went behind closed doors.

The presiding speaker asked for the motion to be made "to call this meeting the order and and recess the regular session and enter the closed session in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143‑318.11 (attorney–client privilege)," and then called for a voice vote: "All in favor, say aye." The transcript records an "Aye." The transcript does not record a roll-call or a named vote tally.

After the vote, the presiding speaker stated the body would go into closed session and instructed staff to cut microphones, ending the public portion of the meeting. The transcript provides no further public details about the subject of the closed session or any actions taken while closed.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143‑318.11 is the state statute commonly cited to allow governmental bodies to meet in closed session for matters covered by the attorney–client privilege. The transcript references that statute explicitly; no other legal authorities or agenda items were recorded in the public portion of the transcript.