Town council cites litigation for holding previous closed door meeting

The Glenrock town council on March 8 provided an explanation for holding a closed door meeting in February that the Glenrock Independent said violated Wyoming’s Open Meetings Act.

On Feb. 8, the town council went into an executive session not viewable to the public on social media or in person, to discuss the town’s Mormon Canyon Road project, the Independent previously reported.

The executive session was held in violation of the Wyoming Open Meetings Act because there was no legitimate legal reason to hold an executive session on that specific topic, Glenrock Independent Editor Cinthia Stimson said during the public comment period of the council’s Feb. 22 meeting.

Executive sessions are only to be held for matters concerning real estate purchase, litigation or personnel issues.

But during the council’s March 8 meeting, council member Margaret Nunn said the executive session was “requested” to address the Sharp property east of town, which the town owns and is currently in litigation.

“This issue was the only reason that I requested this executive session,” Nunn said.

Nunn also said she agreed with the Feb. 24 Independent editorial by publisher Matt Adelman, “that the public deserved better information on issues and projects of the town.”

“But,” she said, “the need for this information should start with all council members receiving timely information so that we can accurately disseminate information to the people of our town.”