Middletown council recesses into executive session to discuss firefighters’ bargaining and West Main Road land acquisition

The Town of Middletown Town Council voted to recess its open meeting and move into an executive session to discuss firefighters’ collective bargaining and a potential land acquisition on West Main Road.

The presiding officer announced the executive session citing Rhode Island General Laws sections 42-46-2, 42-46-4 and 42-46-5, which authorize closed deliberations for specified subjects including collective bargaining and the acquisition of land. Wendy conducted the roll call before the vote; Council President Paula M. Rodericks and all six other councilors were recorded present, establishing a quorum.

A councilor moved that the council recess the open session and reconvene in executive session; another councilor seconded the motion. The council approved the motion by voice vote, with members responding “Aye.” The transcript does not identify who made or seconded the motion by name, and no formal tally by name was recorded in the provided text.

The executive session topics listed on the agenda and announced at the meeting were (1) collective bargaining concerning the firefighters and (2) land acquisition relating to West Main Road. The council did not discuss the substantive details of either matter in open session; those discussions were scheduled for the closed session under the cited statutes.

The council’s next public action or any votes on agreements or purchases related to these topics were not recorded in the provided transcript.