I'm not sure about New York, but in California where we have the Brown Act ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Act Open Meeting Requirements), there is a provision for any legal action, or pending legal action to be held in closed session. Partly to debate strategy, partly to allow an open discussion between board members. If it was in open session, the board's opponents lawyer could take notes, and plan a counter to the public agency's response.
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I'm not sure about New York, but in California where we have the Brown Act ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Act Open Meeting Requirements), there is a provision for any legal action, or pending legal action to be held in closed session. Partly to debate strategy, partly to allow an open discussion between board members. If it was in open session, the board's opponents lawyer could take notes, and plan a counter to the public agency's response.