What happens if a council meeting does not achieve a majority vote to exclude the press?

When a council meeting does not achieve a majority vote to exclude the press, the meeting must continue in public. This rule is in place to ensure transparency and accountability within local government bodies. The press plays a critical role in observing and reporting on public meetings to keep the community informed about governmental activities, decisions, and discussions.

Continuing the meeting in public allows for scrutiny by the press and the public, ensuring that council activities remain open and visible, which is a foundational principle of democratic governance. This promotes trust in local authorities and encourages civic engagement by allowing citizens to understand the workings of their government.

The other options describe scenarios that do not comply with the standard procedures established for council meetings. Rescheduling the meeting or restricting public access only to parts without a majority vote would undermine the intention of public meetings. Therefore, maintaining transparency by continuing the meeting in public is the correct and necessary course of action when a vote to exclude the press fails.