Last modified: Friday, February 15, 2008 12:17 PM EST North board apologizes for closed-door session NORTH ATTLEBORO - The planning board has apologized creating "an appearance of impropriety" for conducting a closed-door session to discuss the budget in January. Planning Board Chairman Donald Cerrone acknowledged that the board should not have gone into a closed door session in January to discuss budget related matters. He asked Town Planner Mary Burgess read a statement on the board's behalf. "The planning board would like to take the opportunity to address the alleged violation of open meeting law that The Sun Chronicle brought to our attention," Burgess said. "The board apologizes for the appearance of impropriety that has occurred. The planning board was in no way trying to conceal anything, but on the contrary, was trying to spare a loyal employee any embarrassment regarding their job performance and stability." In January, the board voted to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing the budget. A reporter for The Sun Chronicle who was in attendance at the January meeting objected to the executive session, arguing that the budget is not a valid reason for private meetings under state law. The planning board went into closed session anyway and the next day The Sun Chronicle asked the Bristol County District Attorney's office to investigate the matter. - Amy DeMelia, Sun Chronicle staff