Meeting an executive session was requested by Legislator Phillip Hathaway to discuss “potential contracts”. Mayor Donna Smith from the Village of Lowville, Lowville Village Trustee Dan Salmon and County Director of Planning Frank Pace were each invited to stay for the session. Those in attendance for the regular meeting, including the editor of linkinglewiscounty.com, were informed that no actions were expected to be taken by the board after the executive session. Some questions were raised on the transparency of the process in terms of NYS Open Meeting Laws, as normally an executive session would not be held with non- board members present. ”The session was held for multiple, unrelated reasons,” Lewis County Attorney Joan McNichol told linkinglewiscounty.com, "and it was not all with the Village Mayor and Trustee present." “It may not have been announced correctly, and that is my fault. What was discussed with the Village representatives involved potential acquisition and/or lease of real property from the Village combined with potential financial options for same in a negotiated agreement involving and affecting the Kraft project and expansion. Publicity of these preliminary discussions would potentially negatively affect the project in a substantial manner. I believe that was a permissible reason for closing the public meeting under the open meetings law criteria for same,” she continued. Ms. McNichol said that a potential contract relationship between the county and village concerning infrastructure upgrades needed in the village to make the Kraft Heinz expansion project a reality were discussed with the two village officials. The village officials were only present for the portion of the session concerning this issue, and were asked to leave when the board moved on to discuss other matters. Ms. McNichol explained that she discussed with the Board a potential land acquisition being negotiated by the County Attorney, and she updated the Board on her negotiations pertaining to the Roaring Brook Wind Farm Project; matters she considers exempt under the open meetings law as confidential and subject to attorney-client privilege. No decisions were made at the closed door session we were assured, and the Board of Legislators regular meeting was adjourned with no additional actions taken following the session. |
| County Attorney Maintains That Tuesday's BOL Executive Session Held Within the Realm of Open Meeting Laws 03/03/16 12:30pm |
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