City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on September 21, 2021 -1– ______________________________________________________________________________ The Special Called Closed Session Meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, on live stream. Mayor Parham called the Special Called Closed Session Meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Mayor Parham stated, “I would like to state for the record that on March 14, 2020, the City Manager in her capacity as the Emergency Manager made a local declaration of emergency with regard to the COVID-19 Pandemic. This declaration of local emergency was ratified by City Council on March 31, 2020, and remains in effect. It was the hope of council that the new meeting location would be completed by this meeting which will facilitate proper safety measures like social distancing for all participants and attendees. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen delays the project has not been completed. Accordingly, this meeting is being held electronically in accordance with 2.2-3708.2 of the Code of Virginia.” 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member Charles H. Cuthbert, Jr. 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 John A. Hart, Sr Present from City Administration: City Manager Stuart Turille City Attorney Anthony Williams 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) 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 and matters of actual or probable litigation, specifically including but not limited to Petersburg Circuit Court Case No.: CL21-000495-00; Petersburg General District Court Case No.: GV21001206-00; and under §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 limited to discussion of the evaluation of performance of Council appointees. Council Member Hill made a motion that the City Council go into closed session for the purposes noted. 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, Smith-Lee, and Parham; Absent: Hart City Council entered closed session at 4:03 p.m. CERTIFICATION: Mr. Williams stated, “The Mayor would entertain a motion to conclude the closed session called this *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on September 21, 2021 -2– ______________________________________________________________________________ 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 Smith-Lee. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Hill, Smith-Lee, and Parham; Absent: Hart 21-R-82 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 5:06 p.m. 3. ADJOURNMENT: City Council adjourned at 5:07 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Mayor *Audio available upon request.