NATCHEZ — The Natchez Board of Aldermen may have violated the Open Meetings Act when it met in executive session Tuesday to discuss the job performance of a former alderman.

After a closed determination about whether to enter executive session, City Attorney Bob Latham said the board was meeting to discuss the performance of a former board of aldermen member, citing the personnel exception of the open meetings law.

While the law allows the board to discuss the job performance of employees, elected officials do not fall under that exception, said Leonard Van Slyke, attorney for the Mississippi Center for Freedom of Information.

When pressed, Latham said it was his opinion the discussion met the requirements for the open meetings law exception.

Latham declined to name the former alderman who was discussed or the nature of the discussion.

The board met in executive session for a little less than an hour, also discussing litigation matters.

State statute 25-41-15 states that if the Mississippi Ethics Commission finds that a member or members of a public body has willfully and knowingly violated the provisions of the Open Meetings Act, the commission may impose a civil penalty upon the individual members not to exceed $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense.