To suggest a topical example, running a search on "city council executive session" or some similar words might be useful in evaluating local arguments around open meetings, what should be perceived as normal, who if anyone is acting unreasonably, etc.
Some of the things one might find include:
Many examples of executive session provoking controversy.
Homer, AK: http://homernews.com/homer-news/local-n ... ve-session
Seward, AK: http://sewardcitynews.com/2016/03/city- ... e-session/
Springfield, MA: http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/ ... execu.html
Frank reporting of an executive session as "illegal," based on simple reading of the law, as in this story from Sandy Oaks, TX: "City Council Convenes In Illegal Executive Session" http://sandyoaksnews.com/city-council-c ... e-session/
A Leesville, LA article was somewhat more cautious, but still notified the public that "Council's executive session possibly against state law." http://www.leesvilledailyleader.com/art ... /150529703
Cities which do not even permit executive session. In 2015 Houston, TX was considering whether or not to end its complete prohibition on executive session. http://www.chron.com/news/politics/hous ... 015436.php
There are also plenty of examples of rules around executive session. Most jurisdictions permit similar pretexts, e.g. real estate transactions and legal consultation, but in many cases these are accompanied by stern restrictions.
- Shoreville, WA requires that "the Mayor must announce the reason for the executive session and the approximate length of time it will take." http://www.cityofshoreline.com/governme ... ve-session
- Colorado outlines numerous active limits on executive session, e.g. "A potential conflict of interest or other impropriety cannot be hidden behind the closed doors of an executive session." These guidelines also suggest that "The rule concerning executive sessions to discuss personnel matters is often invoked, frequently inappropriately," before presenting even more elaborate limits on this subject. http://www.sdaco.org/news/follow-these- ... ve-session
- Massachusetts' Attorney General has an explicit complaint procedure for open meeting law violations. http://www.mass.gov/ago/government-reso ... nforcement
Perhaps some of this will be of service in deciding what actually constitutes customary and appropriate handling of these issues. This is, meanwhile, extremely quick work; if anyone feels like performing further research I hope that he or she will share its results as well.
