During the Board’s duly convened executive session—held in accordance with New York Public Officers Law §105, which permits private discussion of specific confidential matters—several individuals were observed attempting to listen in on, approach, or possibly record the Board’s private deliberations. These actions occurred near the meeting room and later near the secondary location to which the Board was forced to relocate in order to preserve confidentiality.

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Executive sessions are a lawful and necessary component of municipal governance. The public has the right to attend open meetings, but does not have the right to intrude upon, eavesdrop on, or record executive sessions. The conduct witnessed last night was inappropriate, disruptive, and inconsistent with New York State’s expectations for public meeting behavior.

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Following the end of executive session and the adjournment of the meeting, at approximately 10:11 p.m, Board members exiting the building encountered an unknown individual dressed entirely in black and hiding within the parking lot. This person claimed to be affiliated with the Batavia Daily, yet provided no identification, press credentials, or explanation for their presence. The individual had been on the premises well before the meeting began but made no attempt to introduce themselves, request an interview, or communicate with the Board at any point.

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This unexpected confrontation caused significant distress, particularly for our female Board members, who felt unsafe and alarmed as they attempted to walk to their vehicles in the dark. No member of the Board should be placed in a situation where they fear for their personal safety while performing their public duties or simply trying to go home.

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The Town Board of Bennington is committed to transparency, lawful public access, and respectful engagement with residents and members of the press. However, attempts to breach executive session confidentiality, covert recording, stalking behavior, or ambushing officials in isolated areas at night are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

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The Board will be:

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- Reviewing security protocols for Town Hall and its grounds

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- Consulting with legal counsel regarding appropriate responses to attempted intrusions into executive sessions

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- Coordinating with law enforcement to ensure the safety of Board members and the public at future meetings

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- Reaffirming our Rules of Procedure and Public Conduct to ensure orderly, respectful participation

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We appreciate the community’s understanding as we take steps to ensure that Town Board meetings remain safe, lawful, and conducive to responsible governance.

For questions regarding this statement, residents may contact the

Town Hall at 585-591-2157 or email supervisor@benningtonny.gov