Council votes to enter executive session citing trade-secret and litigation exceptions

Council members made and seconded a motion to go into executive session during the Tuscaloosa City pre-council. The motion passed after a voice vote; no substantive details of the matters were discussed in open session.

Mr. Bobbitt, identified in the meeting as the deputy city attorney, provided a legal certification on the record. He stated that the items to be discussed fall within recognized exceptions to open meeting rules, including preliminary negotiations involving matters of trade or commerce, information covered by the Alabama Trade Secret Act, and discussions of legal ramifications and options for pending or imminently likely litigation.

"As your deputy city attorney and attorney licensed to practice law in the state of Alabama, I certify the matters to be discussed in executive session today fall within said exceptions to discuss preliminary negotiations involving matters of trade or commerce in which the governmental body is in competition with private individuals or entities ... or to discover matters or information of the character defined or described in the Alabama Trade Secret Act and to discuss with their attorney the legal ramifications of and legal options for pending litigation," Mr. Bobbitt said on the record.

The body voted in favor to enter executive session; the pre-council transcript records the motion, a second and a voice vote with no recorded opposition. No further public details were provided during the pre-council discussion.