Town of Huntsville

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint regarding the September 28, 2022 meeting of the Town of Huntsville’s General Committee. The complaint alleged that the General Committee contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 (the "Act") by holding a discussion in closed session about a proposal to lease a portion of a municipally owned recreational complex. The complaint also raised concerns that the agenda did not accurately reflect the nature of the closed session discussion, that the Town did not provide proper notice of this discussion, and that the General Committee may have held an improper vote in closed session regarding the proposal.
 
The Ombudsman found that the General Committee’s discussion fit within the exceptions for the acquisition or disposition of land and plans and instructions for negotiations. Additionally, the Ombudsman determined that the General Committee did not contravene the Act with respect to the information provided on the agenda about the subject of the closed session discussion, or by voting in closed session to direct staff. However, the General Committee did contravene the Act by failing to provide sufficient information about the general topic of discussion in its resolution to proceed into closed session.

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