From the Hotline

By Teri Henning
Pennsylvania Newspaper Association

Q: A public agency held an executive session to discuss the need for layoffs. Is this allowed if no specific employees are mentioned?

A: No. Under the Sunshine Act, an agency may only discuss personnel issues in executive session if the discussion is about a specific employee or employees. Therefore, a discussion about the possibility of layoffs (that does not get into the specific issue of who may be laid off) must be held at a public meeting.

Use this link to the Headlines & Deadlines archive of Teri Henning's weekly 'From the Hotline' columns. 

[HOTLINE ARCHIVE]