(a) Open Meetings. All meetings of Council shall be open to the public at all times, unless otherwise provided by Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code, as the same may be amended or recodified, and as provided in subsection (b) herein.
(b) Executive Session. Council may hold an executive session for the sole purpose of the consideration of any of the following matters:
(1) To consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, evaluation, or compensation of a public employee or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual. Except as otherwise provided by law, no public body shall 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.
(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. No member of a public body shall use this subsection as a subterfuge for providing covert information to prospective buyers or sellers. A purchase or sale of public property is void if the seller or buyer of the public property has received covert information from a member of a public body that has not been disclosed to the general public in sufficient time for other prospective buyers and sellers to prepare and submit offers.
If the minutes show that all meetings and deliberations were conducted in compliance with this section, any instrument executed by the City 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 public body concerning disputes involving the City that are the subject of pending or imminent court action, or that pertain to any other legal matter requiring the attention of Council;
(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 public body or a public office, if disclosure of the matters discussed could reasonably be expected to jeopardize the security of the public body or public office;
(7) To consider confidential information related to economic development issues where the executive session is necessary to protect the interests of an applicant for economic assistance or the possible investment or expenditure of public funds made in connection with the economic development project.
(8) Where Council is sitting to decide an issue or matter in a quasi-judicial proceeding, but only after all of the evidence to come before such body has been heard.
(c) Procedure. Council may hold an executive session only after a majority of a quorum of Council determines, by roll call vote, to hold such executive session.
(Ord. 07-2017. Passed 2-27-17.)