I was surprised to read Mayor Hsueh’s lengthy account of items discussed during Town Council’s June 8 closed session (The News, June 12). The mayor showed little respect for the basic reasons for having such sessions.
Some of these reasons are (a.) not to give litigants or potential litigants any insight into what council and the township attorney may be considering in response to existing or possible lawsuits, (b.) not to prematurely discuss negotiations with respect to property acquisitions, and (c.) to keep compensation and other personnel matters confidential until such time as may be considered appropriate.
The mayor’s actions could well have compromised the township’s position on some of these items. Let’s hope that he does not repeat this mistake. What goes on in council’s closed sessions needs to remain confidential until council agrees to its release. It’s not up to the mayor to decide when this should be.
John A. Church
