(a) All meetings of any Municipal Body as defined in Section 112.02 of this chapter are declared to be public meetings open to the public at all times. For purposes of this section, a “meeting” as defined in Section 112.02 shall not include meetings designed for strictly fact finding or information gathering purposes.
(b) In addition to those meetings identified by Ohio R.C. 112.02(D), this section does not apply to any of the following:
(1) An audit conference conducted by the Finance Director, the Audit Review Committee or independent certified public accountants with officials of the public office that is the subject of the audit;
(2) A conference for purposes of discussing an ongoing criminal investigation of the local, state or federal law enforcement authorities.
(c) In addition to those exceptions identified by Ohio R.C. 112.02(G), the members of a Municipal Body may hold an executive session only after a majority of a quorum of the Municipal Body determines, by a roll call vote, to hold an executive session and only at a regular or special meeting for the sole purpose of the consideration of any of the following matters:
(1) To consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of a public employee, class of employees, official or class of officials, or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee or regulated individual, unless the public employee, official, licensee or regulated individual requests a public hearing. Except as otherwise provided by law, no Municipal Body shall hold an executive session for the discipline of an elected official for the conduct related to the performance of the elected official’s official duties or for the elected official’s removal from office.
(2) To consider the purchase or lease of property for public purposes, or the sale or lease of property where it is determined that said sale or lease will be at competitive bidding, if premature disclosure of information would give an unfair competitive or bargaining advantage to a person whose personal, private interest is adverse to the general public interest.
If the minutes of the Municipal Body show that all meetings and deliberations of the Municipal Body have been conducted in compliance with this section, any instrument executed by the Municipal Body purporting to convey, lease or otherwise dispose of any right, title, or interest in any public property shall be conclusively presumed to have been executed in compliance with this section insofar as title or other interest of any bona fide purchasers, lessees, or transferees of the property is concerned.
(3) Conferences with an attorney for the Municipal Body for purposes of receiving legal advice on any matter affecting or before the Municipal Body.
(4) Preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment.
(5) Matters required to be kept confidential by federal law or regulations or state statutes.
(6) Details relative to the security arrangements and emergency response protocols for a Municipal Body or a public office, if disclosure of the matters discussed could reasonably be expected to jeopardize the security of the Municipal Body or public office.
(d) No failure or deficiency in any motion made pursuant to subsection (c) hereof shall invalidate the purposes or actions of any meeting conducted pursuant to that subsection (c).
(Ord. 2006-123. Passed 11-28-06.)