There is a need for an ordinance to prohibit disclosure of confidential
information discussed in executive session.
The Open Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.) provides that
all meetings of public bodies shall be open to the public. A public body may
exclude the public only from that portion of a meeting at which the public
body discusses personnel matters, litigation, collective bargaining agreements,
real estate transactions, and other matters enumerated in N.J.S.A. 10:4-12b.
Those meetings wherein the public is excluded are designated as "executive
session" meetings. Because of the confidential nature of the matters discussed
during executive session, disclosure of any information revealed in said meetings
is prohibited.
It is the policy of the Borough of Alpha that any information revealed
or discussed in an executive session meeting shall be considered confidential
and is prohibited from being disclosed until such time as the executive session
minutes are reviewed by the Mayor and Council and released to the public.
Accordingly, in the event the Mayor, any Council person or any other person
present for an executive session meeting discloses confidential information
prior to its release to the public, he or she shall be eligible for disciplinary
action.
Any person who believes that another person has revealed confidential
information from an executive session meeting shall file an incident report
within a reasonable period of time after the event.
No person filing a report under this policy or who legitimately assists
another in the prosecution of any such complaint shall be subjected to retribution
or retaliation of any kind for doing so.