City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on: November 10, 2020 -1– ______________________________________________________________________________ The Special Called Closed Session Meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, November 10, 2020, on live stream. Mayor Parham called the Special Called Closed Session Meeting to order at 10:03a.m. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member Charles H. Cuthbert, Jr Council Member Treska Wilson-Smith Council Member Annette Smith-Lee Council Member Darrin Hill Council Member W. Howard Myers Vice Mayor John A. Hart, Sr. Mayor Samuel Parham Absent: None Present from City Administration: City Attorney Anthony Williams City Manager Aretha R. Ferrell-Benavides Clerk of Council Nykesha D. Jackson 2. CLOSED SESSION: Mayor Parham stated, “I would entertain a motion to add discussion of a contract to the closed session this morning.” Council Member Cuthbert made a motion to add to the closed session agenda the discussion of a contract. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. There was no discussion on the motion, which was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson-Smith, Smith-Lee, Myers, Hill, Hart and Parham a. The purpose of this meeting is to convene in the closed session pursuant to §2.2-3711(A)(7)(8) 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 of actual or probable litigation specifically including but not limited to a discussion regarding Petersburg Circuit Court Case No.: CL150000785-00; resolution of title issues associated with the Battersea Farm; and legal matters requiring the advice of the City Attorney; and pursuant to §2.2-3711(A)(5) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of discussions regarding the subject matter of a prospective business or industry or the expansion of an existing business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of the business’ or industry’s’ interest in locating or expanding its facilities in the community; and pursuant to §2.2-3711(A)(1) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of discussions pertaining to performance, assignment, and appointment of specific public employees of the City of Petersburg specifically including but not limited to the subject of performance, assignment, and appointment specific public employees of the City of Petersburg. Specifically included but not limited to discussion of the assignment, appointment, and performance of specific public employees.; and under pursuant to 2.2- 3711(A)(29) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of discussion regarding the subject of the award of a public contract involving the expenditure of public funds, including interviews of bidders or offerors, and discussion of the terms or scope of such contract, where discussion in *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on: November 10, 2020 -2– ______________________________________________________________________________ an open session would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body. Vice Mayor Hart made a motion that the City Council go into closed session for the purposes noted by Mayor Parham. The motion was seconded by Council Member Smith-Lee. There was no discussion on the motion, which was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Smith-Lee, Hill, Hart and Parham City Council entered closed session at 10:07a.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 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 Vice Mayor Hart. There was no discussion on the motion. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Smith-Lee, Hill, Hart and Parham 20-R-61 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 12:56 p.m. 3. ADJOURNMENT: City Council adjourned at 12:57 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Mayor *Audio available upon request.