The Burrillville Town Council on May 5, 2025, voted to move into executive session to discuss potential litigation related to an appeal of the Planning Board decision on the Gladhill Field development plan, at a special meeting at the Burrillville Town Building.

Town Manager Michael C. Wood requested the executive session pursuant to what was recorded in the meeting as “Rhode Island General Law, subsection 42-46-5 8 2” for discussion and consideration of potential litigation regarding an appeal to the Planning Board’s Gladhill Field development plan review decision. The council moved into executive session and later returned to open session.

After the executive session, the council voted to seal the executive-session minutes, with Councilman Mr. Badland making the motion and the vice president seconding, and the motion carried with council members answering “Aye.” The council also disclosed and approved a vote authorizing the administration and the town manager to pursue an appeal of the Planning Board decision; the motion to approve that authorization was made by Mr. Badland and seconded by the vice president, and passed with council members answering “Aye.” During discussion of that motion the council amended the motion to add a specific Planning Board decision date; the record in the meeting alternately referenced “April 28, 2020” and later “April 20,” and the transcript is inconsistent about the exact date referenced in the amendment.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn made by the vice president and seconded by Mr. Bellman; the motion carried with members answering “Aye.” The council recorded that two votes were taken during the executive session.

No additional details on the substance of the potential litigation, the grounds for the appeal, or the identity of the appellant were disclosed in open session. The council did not provide a roll-call vote listing individual yes or no votes in the public record during the meeting.