City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on: June 16, 2020 -1– ______________________________________________________________________________ 2The Special Called Closed Session Meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, on live stream. Mayor Parham called the Special Called Closed Session Meeting to order at 10:33a.m. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member Charles H. Cuthbert, Jr Council Member Treska Wilson-Smith Council Member Darrin Hill Council Member W. Howard Myers Mayor Samuel Parham Absent: Council Member Annette Smith-Lee (arrived during closed session) Council Member John A. Hart, Sr Present from City Administration: City Attorney Anthony Williams City Manager Aretha R. Ferrell-Benavides Clerk of Council Nykesha D. Jackson 2. CLOSED SESSION: a. The purpose of this meeting is to convene in the closed session pursuant to §2.2-3711(A)(7) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of receiving legal advice and status update from the City Attorney and legal consultation regarding the subject of specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by the City Attorney and matters of actual or probable litigation specifically including but not limited to a discussion of a recent Virginia Supreme Court decision relating to the Freedom of Information Act of potential litigation associated with the letter received from the state health commissioner, the legal process associated with naming City parks and emergency cooperative procurement issues related to the City’s banking contract and associated charter provisions with the status of title and legal options on the McKenney Library and under Section §2.2-3711(A)(1) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of discussion pertaining to performance, assignment and appointment of specific employees of the City of Petersburg, specifically included but not limited to the subject of performance, assignment and appointment of specific public employees of the City of Petersburg, specifically included but not limited to discussion of the contract performance of the Clerk of Council. Council Member Hill moved that the City Council go into closed session for the purposes noted by Mayor Parham. The motion was seconded by Council Member Myers. There was no discussion on the motion, which was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee and Hart City Council entered closed session at 10:35a.m. CERTIFICATION: Mr. Williams stated, “The Mayor would entertain a motion to conclude the closed session called this evening to certify in accordance with §2.2-3712 that the Code of Virginia that to the best of each members knowledge that only public business matter lawfully exempted from the opening meeting requirements were discussed and that only such public business matters were identified in the motion by which the closed *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on: June 16, 2020 -2– ______________________________________________________________________________ meeting was convened, heard, discussed or considered. If any member believes that there was a departure from the foregoing requirements should so state prior to the vote indicating the substance for departure that in his or her judgment has taken place. This requires a roll call vote Mr. Mayor.” Council Member Hill made a motion to return City Council into open session and certify the purposes of the closed session. The motion was seconded by Council Member Myers. There was no discussion on the motion. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Hill, Smith-Lee, Myers and Parham; Abstain: Wilson-Smith; Absent: Hart 20-R-32 A RESOLUTION CERTIFYING, AS REQUIRED BY THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, SECTION 2.2- 3712, THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER’S KNOWLEDGE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS OF VIRGINIA LAW WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED SESSION, AND ONLY SUCH PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS AS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION CONVENING THE CLOSED SESSION WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED, OR CONSIDERED. City Council returned to opened session at 12:50 p.m. Council Member Cuthbert made a motion to direct the City Manager to schedule a special meeting at which time bond counsel will make a presentation as to the financial impact with complying with the health commissioners mandate to be followed by the recommendation of the City Attorney as to action to be taken and until council directs otherwise the following pre COVID-19 procedures with respect to disconnects and reconnects of utility bills. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. There was no discussion on the motion. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Hill, Smith-Lee, Myers and Parham; Voting No: Wilson-Smith; Absent: Hart Council Member Cuthbert made a motion to direct the City Manager in accordance with Section 3-13 of the City Code to recommend a bank for our banking services for the City. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. There was no discussion on the motion. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Hill, Smith-Lee, Wilson-Smith, Myers and Parham; Absent: Hart 3. ADJOURNMENT: City Council adjourned at 12:51 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Mayor *Audio available upon request.