The Gazette article came out November 11th, online, and the next day in print. “Commissioners authorized the settlements of these claims without a record of a vote being taken while meeting in closed session,” the article says.

Also at issue is whether the board has the right to sue without making the decision in a public meeting.  Brooks Fuller, with the North Carolina Open Government Coalition said this about the board: “If they are going to discuss or deliberate anything that involves public business,” he said, “they have to do so in an official meeting.”

The board has not voted to take legal action,  although the lawsuit was filed weeks ago.