Special Meeting to Hold Closed Session – February 19, 2026
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Special Meeting to Hold Closed Session – February 19, 2026
The Howard County Council held a special virtual meeting on February 19, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. to consider and vote on a motion to close the meeting to the public for a closed session. The meeting was streamed live via the County Council website. All five council members were present: Chair Opel Jones, Vice Chair Christiana Rigby, and members Liz Walsh, Deb Jung, and David Yungmann.
Discussion Items
- Council Chair Opel Jones moved to close the meeting in accordance with Maryland Code, General Provisions, Section 3-305(b)(1) and (7) to discuss personnel matters (performance, compensation, discipline, and removal of one or more specific employees) and to obtain legal advice from counsel regarding that personnel matter. The motion was seconded. No objections were raised.
The council discussed the need for the closed session; no further discussion occurred.
Key Outcomes
- The council voted unanimously (5-0) to close the meeting. Roll call: Chair Jones (yes), Vice Chair Rigby (yes), Ms. Jung (yes), Ms. Walsh (yes), Mr. Yungmann (yes). The motion passed, and the council adjourned the open session to proceed into closed session immediately. The live stream was ended.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. Uh, this is the council's special meeting to determine the need for a closed session. The proceeding this afternoon is a virtual meeting, which is held via WebEx Teleconference. It is also available to the public via video stream online at the County Council website. This time we're going to do a roll call of the council members. Miss Rigby. Here. Miss Young. Here. Miss Walsh. Here. Mr. Youngman. And I am Opal Jones. We will now proceed with our agenda. Council members, based on the general provisions article of the annotated code of Maryland, there is a need to meet in closed session on February 19, 2026, under Maryland Code, General Provisions, Section 3305, B1 and 7 to discuss the appointment employment assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom the county council has jurisdiction or any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals, and to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice on a legal matter. The topics are performance, compensation, discipline, and removal of one or more specific employees, and legal advice from council regarding that personnel matter. Is there any discussion regarding the need for a closed session? Okay. Hearing none, I move that this meeting be closed in accordance with the Maryland Code General Provisions, Section 3305, B1 and 7 to discuss the aforementioned attributes I've mentioned. The topics, I'll say that again. The topics are performance, compensation, discipline, and removal of one or more specific employees, and legal advice from council regarding that personnel matter. Second. Okay. Are there any objections to proceeding with a closed session in accordance with section 3305 B1 and 7? Okay, hearing none, will the administrator please call the vote to close the meeting in accordance with Section 3305 B1 and 7? Chair Jones. Yes. Vice Chair Rigby. Yes. Ms. Young. Yes. Ms. Walsh. Yes. Mr. Youngman. Okay. Thank you all. The motion to close the meeting in accordance with Section 3305 B1 and 7 passes. We will now adjourn our special meeting to go into closed session. This meeting will conclude at the end of the closed session. For those of you watching us online, we will be ending our live stream now. We are adjourned and thank you.
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