Walnutport Borough Council may have run afoul of the state’s Sunshine Law when it chose to meet in executive session during its workshop session on Thursday.

Councilwoman Patrice Hunsicker called for the executive session, stating it was being held for recreational and contractual purposes.

However, “The stated reasons are not executive sessions under the Sunshine Act,” according to Melissa Melewsky, the media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.

“I think both of those present issues,” Melewsky said. “In addition to that, the law is clear that they have to provide more than a one word reason because the one word doesn’t really tell you what it’s about.”

Once council resumed the meeting after a near hourlong executive session, it was restated that it was held for recreational and contractual purposes.

At that, fire chief and grant coordinator Michael Wentz told council he believed what they did was “illegal” because it violated the Sunshine Law.

The majority of council sat silent upon hearing the accusation.

Hunsicker, however, took responsibility for the executive session.

“I called it,” Hunsicker said.

It was noted that no action was taken following the executive session.

Council’s attorney was not in attendance for either the workshop or executive session.