HAMLET — The city council spent more than two hours Tuesday evening behind closed doors in a special closed session meeting.
In the absence of Mayor Amy Guinn, Mayor Pro Tem Abbie Covington opened the meeting and the council voted to go into closed session to discuss personnel and legal matters, both allowed under state statute.
A notice for the meeting issued last week noted that the council “might receive advice” pertaining to two filed civil court cases — one filed by the city manager against five individuals, and the other filed against the city by Esco Latimer.
The doors to City Hall were locked and members of the press and public waited as temperatures dropped to near freezing. Latimer and his wife — the only members of the public who attended — sat inside their running car, as members of the media stood outside.
Just before 8:15 p.m., the council chamber doors opened — however the council had already come back into open session and adjourned while the front doors remained locked.
According to City Attorney T.C. Morphis, no action was taken.
