GRAND TERRACE - The City Council voted unanimously to release the results of its closed session meeting about years of unpaid taxes by city employees, concluding that requiring them to refile taxes for the last three years would satisfy its legal obligation.

Members of Grand Terrace's City Council and Planning Commission had not reported their city stipends as pay since the city was incorporated in 1978, despite Internal Revenue Service requirements. City staff began investigating the issue when Councilman Walt Stanckiewitz asked about it during 2010 tax season.

The city attorney said in an e-mail that the closed session was labeled on the agenda as addressing potential litigation, which is an area exempt from the Brown Act's usual requirement that government meetings be open to the public.

Others criticized the decision to meet privately on an issue that would affect others.

"If the report is made public, people will be able to come to their own conclusions," City Council candidate Bernardo Sandoval said. "I would be horrified if I were a member of the Planning Commission."

Doug Wilson, chairman of the Planning Commission, reviewed the report and said Wednesday that it was ridiculous.

"While I committed myself as a volunteer for service, I don't really want to be an employee of the city," he said, noting that the report said commission members' stipends - $350 to $400 a year - were too low to meet the withholding requirements, but would be liable for Social Security and Medicare, "We're talking pennies overall, guys.

Council members earn $150 per month, in addition to as much as $120 per month as members of the Redevelopment Agency.

The 80-page document is free to view, but copies are $16 for anyone not directly affected.