From The Gazette (Colorado Springs):  Colorado Springs City Council sure has a lot to discuss behind closed doors.

It met in a closed meeting Monday for two hours and 26 minutes. The council discussed four topics — one of which was not listed on the published agenda. They talked about ”legal advice and negotiation consultation with the city attorney regarding a franchise matter; legal advice and negotiation consultation with the city attorney regarding an insurance matter; and legal advice negotiation consultation with the city attorney regarding a bankruptcy matter.” The council also discussed the contract for the Colorado Springs Utilities CEO that was not listed on the agenda.

When the council opened the doors to the City Hall chambers at 3:30 p.m., council member Helen Collins — who voted against going into a closed meeting — said there were portions of the closed meeting that could have been discussed in the open. However, she did not elaborate.

Council member Andy Pico said he believed the topics discussed behind closed doors met the threshold for a closed meeting. By law, council can go into a closed meeting to discuss transfer of property, attorney legal advice, security arrangements, development strategies for negotiations, personnel matters and documents protected by the mandatory non-disclosure provisions of the Open Records Act. Going into a closed meeting requires a two-thirds vote, and the council cannot vote behind closed doors.

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