The Council shall meet at such times as may be prescribed by its rules, regulations, ordinances and bylaws, but it shall hold regular meetings at least twice in each calendar month. All regular meetings shall be accessible and unedited to residents and the public through media outlets and by other electronic means, as the technology becomes available. The inability to have a regular meeting accessible and unedited to residents and the public through media outlets and by other electronic means due to technological difficulties at any particular meeting shall not require the meeting to be suspended, continues or to not go forward and there shall be no effect upon the validity of any action taken at such a meeting. Council shall hold such special meetings as may be found necessary, which may be called by the Clerk upon the written request of the Mayor or upon the written request of three (3) members of Council, in a manner prescribed by ordinance. All regular and special meetings of Council shall be held in the Council Chamber of the Municipality or elsewhere in the Municipality as determined by majority vote of Council and shall be open to the public. Meetings of Council committees, including Committee of the Whole, shall be public, except as follows:
The members of the Council may hold an executive session after a majority of a quorum of Council determines, by a roll call vote at a regular or special Council meeting, and at Council committee meetings to hold such a session and only for the sole purpose of the consideration of any of the following matters which matter shall be stated in the motion and vote to hold the executive session or for the consideration of any further matters to be stated in any revision of Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code:
1. To consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of an employee or official of the City, or the investigation of charges or complaints against an employee or official of the City unless the employee or official requests a public hearing. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Council shall not hold an executive session for the discipline of an elected official for conduct related to the performance of the elected official’s official duties or for the elected official’s removal from office. The motion and vote to hold the executive session stating one or more of the above approved purposes need not include the name of any person to be considered at the meeting.
2. To consider the purchase of property for public purposes, or the sale of property 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 Council show that all meetings and deliberations of the Council have been conducted in compliance with this section, any instrument executed as provided in the Charter to convey, lease, or otherwise dispose of any right, title, or interest in any public property of the City shall be conclusively presumed to have been executed in compliance with this section insofar as title of bona fide purchasers, lessees, or transferees of the property is concerned.
3. Conference with an attorney for the City or the Council concerning disputes involving the City or the Council that are the subject of pending or imminent court action.
4. Preparing for, conducting or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning the public employees’ compensation or other terms or conditions of the public employees’ employment.
5. Matters required to be kept confidential by federal law or rules or state statutes.
6. Specialized details of security arrangements where disclosure of the matters discussed might reveal information that could be used for the purpose of committing or avoiding prosecution for a violation of the law.
7. Any other reasons provided by State law.
(Amended 11-3-09; 11-4-14; 11-6-18)