Donora approves penalties for leaking from executive sessions

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

Donora Council took a page out of Charleroi’s book Thursday night and approved a resolution imposing penalties for members who talk about executive session information out of turn.

Solicitor Steve Toprani, who is also Charleroi’s solicitor, said during last week’s workshop meeting the resolution is meant to prevent council members from talking about executive session topics outside of those meetings and to encourage them to be mindful of the requirements imposed on executive sessions.

In the workshop session, Councilwoman Cindy Brice asked why the resolution hadn’t been discussed before Toprani drafted the resolution. She also asked who put the resolution on the agenda for discussion and directed Toprani to do the work.

Council President Mike McDowell said it was his idea.

“Because every time I turn around, somebody is calling me talking about something that happened in the executive sessions,” McDowell said.

Brice didn’t understand why it hadn’t been brought up before and why it was put on the agenda without the rest of council knowing about it.

“It’s being talked about tonight in the work session,” McDowell said.

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