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SALT LAKE CITY — Details of the negotiations regarding troubled Salt Lake County Recorder Gary Ott's resignation remain unknown.
The Salt Lake County Council held a closed meeting with District Attorney Sim Gill on Tuesday to discuss a "personnel" matter, according to the council's agenda.
After the meeting, County Council Chairman Steve DeBry said he and other council members could not discuss the topic of the meeting due to closed meeting laws — but the meeting comes the day after reports that conversations of Ott's resignation have begun.
On Monday, Karmen Sanone, Ott's office aide and apparent girlfriend or fiance, told the Deseret News that Ott, 66, is considering retirement before his current term ends in 2020.
That same day, Sanone asked Salt Lake County GOP Chairman Jake Parkinson to reach out to the council to begin conversations about Ott's retirement.
Council members, however, were tight-lipped about any negotiations that may be happening behind closed doors regarding Ott's retirement, bound by closed meeting rules.
"I can't comment on our closed session. I wish I could, but at this point, things are still in progress. I just can't even give you any information on it," DeBry said when asked if any decisions have been made about Ott's situation.
Talks of Ott's potential resignation come the week after the Deseret News published a report calling into question Ott's well-being — including a 45-minute recorded conversation from early May in which the recorder could not answer questions coherently, plus concerns from county employees who say his attendance at work has become increasingly sporadic.
The Deseret News published its first investigative report in February 2016, detailing concerns that the longtime recorder's health could be deteriorating to the point that he may no longer be capable of doing his job.
Last week, Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams and other county leaders called for Ott's resignation — welcoming conversations with family members and those closest to Ott to discuss the terms.
Some county employees, elected officials and Ott's sister have also expressed concerns that Ott may be manipulated by his staff, including Sanone and Ott's chief deputy, Julie Dole, in order to keep their jobs. Both women deny those accusations.
Ott's sister, Kathy Chamberlian, has said she and other family members are eager to work with county officials to negotiate a retirement that will be in Ott's best interest — though it was Sanone who asked Parkinson to reach out to the council.
It's not clear whether Sanone will have an influence over those negotiations or whether she has any legal standing concerning Ott.
Past court documents and police reports have identified Sanone as Ott's fiancee or wife, raising additional concerns of nepotism in the county recorder's office. The Deseret News, however, has not been able to locate a marriage certificate. Sanone has declined to discuss her personal relationship with Ott.
Though DeBry declined to discuss the nature of the closed session Tuesday, he did say there will be another closed session next week to discuss the same "personnel matter."
