City Council
Regular MeetingPetersburg, VA · January 19, 2021
Minutes
Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on January 19, 2021 -1–
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The Special Called Closed Session Meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, January 19,
2021, on live stream. Council Member Parham called the Special Called Closed Session Meeting to order at
11:07a.m.
1. ROLL CALL:
Present:
Council Member Charles H. Cuthbert, Jr
Council Member Treska Wilson-Smith
Council Member W. Howard Myers
Council Member Darrin Hill
Council Member John A. Hart, Sr.
Vice Mayor Annette Smith-Lee
Mayor Samuel Parham
Absent: None
Present from City Administration:
City Attorney Anthony Williams
Clerk of Council Nykesha D. Jackson
Aretha R. Ferrell-Benavides
2. CLOSED SESSION:
a. The purpose of this meeting is to convene in the closed session 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 discussion of the assignment, appointment, and performance of specific public
employees including Interim City Manager appointment; and under Section §2.2-3711(A)(7) and
(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 requiring the
provision of legal advice by the City Attorney specifically including but not limited to matters
requiring legal advice from the City Attorney on FOIA requests received by the City and other
legal matters.
Council Member Myers made a motion that the City Council go into closed session for the purposes
noted. 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, Myers, Hill, Hart, Smith-Lee and Parham
City Council entered closed session at 11:08a.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.”
*Audio available upon request.
Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on January 19, 2021 -2–
______________________________________________________________________________
Council Member Myers 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 Hill. 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, Hill, Hart, Smith-Lee and Parham
21-R-10 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 12:19 p.m.
3. ADJOURNMENT:
City Council adjourned at 12:20 p.m.
_________________________
Clerk of City Council
APPROVED:
_________________________
Mayor
*Audio available upon request.
Agenda
City of Petersburg
City Council
Virginia Samuel Parham, Mayor – Ward 3
www.petersburgva.gov Annette Smith-Lee – Ward 6
Treska Wilson-Smith, Councilor – Ward 1
Darrin Hill, Councilor – Ward 2
Charles Cuthbert, Councilor – Ward 4
W. Howard Myers, Councilor – Ward 5
John A. Hart, Sr., Councilor – Ward 7
City Manager
Aretha R. Ferrell-Benavides
SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
January 19, 2021
Live Stream
Petersburg, VA
11:00am
1. Roll Call
2. Closed Session:
a. The purpose of this meeting is to convene in the closed session 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 discussion of the assignment,
appointment, and performance of specific public employees including Interim City
Manager appointment; and under Section §2.2-3711(A)(7) and (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
requiring the provision of legal advice by the City Attorney specifically including
but not limited to matters requiring legal advice from the City Attorney on FOIA
requests received by the City and other legal matters.
3. Adjournment
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