City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on June 15, 2021 -1– The Special Called Closed Session Meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, on live stream. Mayor Parham called the Special Called Closed Session Meeting to order at 11:05 a.m. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member Treska Wilson-Smith Council Member W. Howard Myers Council Member Darrin Hill Vice Mayor Annette Smith-Lee Mayor Samuel Parham Absent: Council Member Charles H. Cuthbert, Jr Council Member John A. Hart, Sr. (arrived after roll call) Present from City Administration: Interim City Manager Kenneth Miller City Attorney Anthony Williams Clerk of Council Nykesha D. Jackson 2. CLOSED SESSION: Council Member Myers made a motion to add personnel items to the agenda regarding the Interim City Manager personnel recommendations. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill, Smith-Lee and Parham; Absent: Cuthbert and Hart a. The purpose of this meeting is to convene in the closed session pursuant to §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 concerning the old Ramada property; legal issues relating to a public utility easement project; and an employee grievance matter; and pursuant to §2.2-3711(A)(1) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of discussion pertaining to performance, assignment and appointment of specific public employees of the City of Petersburg specifically including but not limited to discussion of employees in the Office of the Clerk of Council, and public information/media relations and the Interim City Manager personnel recommendations. 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: Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill, Smith-Lee and Parham; Absent: Cuthbert and Hart City Council entered closed session at 11:05a.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 *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on June 15, 2021 -2– 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 Council Member Myers. There was no discussion on the motion. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill, Smith-Lee and Parham; Absent: Cuthbert and Hart 21-R-53 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 1:01 p.m. Council Member Wilson-Smith made a motion to amend the current contract of the Acting City Manager for an additional 90-day period in order to render support to the new City Manager during his first 90 days. 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: Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill, and Parham; Absent: Cuthbert, Smith-Lee and Hart Council Member Wilson-Smith made a motion to authorize the Acting City Manager to take action on the personnel matters discussed in 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: Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill, Smith-Lee and Parham; Absent: Cuthbert and Hart Council Member Myers made a motion that City Council approve the request to allow the Interim City Manager to bring back consideration of a reappropriation of funding allocating for FY21-22 as it relates to the continued operation of the Freedom Support Center building at 32 West Washington Street. 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: Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill, Smith-Lee and Parham; Absent: Cuthbert and Hart 3. ADJOURNMENT: City Council adjourned at 1:05 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on June 15, 2021 -3– _________________________ Mayor *Audio available upon request.