SWOhio:

You might notice that I did NOT use quotation marks when I described what the mayor said regarding the reason for the executive session. That is because I could not recall his exact words, even though I was listening closely. To the best of my recollection, it was NOT the standard boiler plate language that you cited (which, by the way, is too broad, per ORC!!! Please read the rest of that very same section!!!)

I waited to write that post until AFTER TVMiddletown’s first rebroadcast of the meeting. I was going to get the exact wording to “quote” the mayor. Unfortunately, for some reason TVMiddletown did NOT rebroadcast the original early start of the business meeting.

The Business meeting was scheduled, and advertised, to begin at 6:30 pm. I had been watching the rebroadcast of the 2/28/2011 MCSD Board meeting on TVMiddletown since about 6:00 pm when suddenly the City of Middletown seal came on the screen. Next, the mayor and all council members except Ms. Scott-Jones (ASJ) entered, sat down, and the camera centered on the mayor. He looked quite grim.

He called the meeting to order. All council members were present except ASJ. The mayor, still quite grim, said that ASJ was in the building. He then said that they would be moving the executive session from the end of the meeting to the start. Since I sensed something was up I tried to listen closely to the language. It was not his usual recitation of the laundry list.

(Once again, just reciting the laundry list is improper. From ORC 121.22 (G)(1):

That is the part you did NOT quote, SWOhio! The Law Director should know this. The mayor should know this. The Law Director should not let the mayor get away with just reading the laundry list meeting after meeting.)

Anyway, I digress. All six members present voted to go into executive session. Off they went. It was 6:13 (by my clock).

Next, concerning the City Manager’s absence:

Sick??? Out of town on business??? On Vacation??? SURE!!! Believe that if you want. Why didn’t they mention it??? Lawrence P. Mulligan, Jr. always goes way out of his way to make sure that everything gets explained away that can be explained away. He makes excuses when he doesn’t even need excuses. So all of a sudden the City Manager goes MIA and everybody just ignores it??? ROFLMAO!! Sure!!! And her nameplate just fell over??? Maybe I knocked it over by telekinesis, just to cause speculation???

Tell your friends to resume meeting in council chambers with the TV cameras on, as they should be meeting, and we won’t have to be speculating!!!

SWOhio:

I was aware of the wording in this story when I asked you to cite it. I am also aware that there was an earlier version, with a different headline (that has now vanished from the local newspaper's archives) that had different wording regarding the city manager's absence.

Since I cannot be certain of the earlier story's verbiage, I will not try to repeat it here. I’ve already erred in memory recall once in this thread. That should suffice. But let me be clear!!! It did neither mention vacation, nor any other specific reason for Ms. Gilleland’s absence!!!

I also seem to recall a slightly different subject matter.

Too bad that we mere citizens aren’t privy to an agenda for the semi-secret, un-televised portion of OUR city council meeting, or it might’ve tickled my old, cluttered memory enough recall all subjects of that earlier article.  It might also prompt more of us to attend these "work sessions".  But perhaps they really don't want that, do they???

It’s also a shame that the local newspaper does not archive all articles dealing with local matters. I would be pleased to quote and cite the earlier version, as my goal is the truth!!!