Council enters executive session on AT&T litigation; returns and approves non-monetary settlement authorization with abstention

The Iberia Parish Council voted to enter executive session on Feb. 25 to discuss pending litigation involving New Cingular Wireless, PCS LLC, doing business as AT&T Mobility, and the Parish of Iberia (case numbers cited in the record). The clerk introduced the request and legal counsel cited Louisiana Revised Statutes authorizing executive-session discussion limited to settlement matters involving no monetary consideration.

After the closed session, legal counsel stated that no vote or action was taken during executive session. The council then took up a related resolution in open session. Prior to the vote, the chair stated: "I will be abstaining from this vote because of my affiliation being a vendor with AT and T." The motion was then put to the council and the clerk recorded that the motion carried.

Legal counsel's post-session statement indicated the council had complied with the statutory requirements for executive session and that any settlement authorization discussed was limited to non-monetary terms in the record.