City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on July 19, 2022 -1– ______________________________________________________________________________ The Closed Session Meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at the Petersburg Public Library. Mayor Parham called the Closed Session Meeting to order at 3:01p.m. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member Charles H. Cuthbert, Jr Council Member W. Howard Myers Council Member Treska Wilson-Smith Council Member Darrin Hill Mayor Samuel Parham Absent: Council Member Arnold Westbrook, Jr. Vice Mayor Annettee Smith-Lee Present from City Administration: Clerk of Council Nykesha D. Lucas City Attorney Anthony Williams Interim City Manager Kenneth Miller 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 discussion pertaining to performance, assignment, and appointment of specific public employees of the City of Petersburg specifically including but not limited to discussion of the performance and appointment of specific public officers; and under §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 discussion regarding Petersburg Circuit Court Case No,: CL21000495-00; a matter of pending litigation; and a contract issue; Section 106-300and 302 of the Petersburg City Code; 2.2-3112 of the Code of Virginia; and zoning issues relating to 58.1-3510.4 of the Code of Virginia; and under §2.2-3711(A)(3) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of discussion or consideration of the acquisition and disposition of real property for a public purpose or the disposition of publicly held real property where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body, specifically including but not limited to the acquisition and disposition of real property. Council Member Hill made a motion that the City Council go into closed session for the purposes noted. Council Member Myers seconded the motion. There was no discussion on the motion, which was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, and Parham; Absent: Smith-Lee City Council entered closed session at 3:03 p.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 *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on July 19, 2022 -2– ______________________________________________________________________________ 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 Myers made a motion to return City Council into open session and certify the purposes of the closed session. Council Member Hill seconded the motion. 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, Westbrook, Hill, Smith-Lee, and Parham 22-R-45 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 open session at 5:35 p.m. Mayor Parham stated, “I will entertain a motion to add the acceptance of a resignation of Brian Gordineer and the appointment of Mary Burket as City Assessor and authorization of the mayor to execute the City Assessor contract on behalf of the City Council to the agenda this afternoon.” Council Member Hill made a motion to add the acceptance of a resignation of Brian Gordineer and the appointment of Mary Burket as City Assessor and authorization of the mayor to execute the City Assessor contract on behalf of the City Council to the agenda. Vice Mayor Smith-Lee seconded the motion. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, Smith-Lee, and Parham Mayor Parham stated, “Next, I will entertain a motion to accept the resignation of Brian Gordineer and the appoint Mary Burket as City Assessor and authorize the mayor to execute the City Assessor contract on behalf of the City Council.” Council Member Hill made a motion to accept the resignation of Brian Gordineer and the appoint Mary Burket as City Assessor and authorize the mayor to execute the City Assessor contract on behalf of the City Council. Vice Mayor Smith-Lee seconded the motion. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, Smith-Lee, and Parham Mayor Parham stated, “Next, I will entertain a motion to add a resolution to approve the request from the Petersburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority for a stipend for up to $500 for members of the Petersburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority to the city council agenda this afternoon.” Council Member Myers made a motion to add a resolution to approve the request from the Petersburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority for a stipend for up to $500 for members of the Petersburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority to the city council agenda. Vice Mayor Smith-Lee seconded the motion. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Wilson-Smith, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, Smith-Lee, and Parham Mayor Parham stated, “Good afternoon Ms. Howard. We were just informed that there was a *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on July 19, 2022 -3– ______________________________________________________________________________ presentation for the resolution for the housing authority if you just wanted to make some comments on it.” Mary Howard, Chairman of Petersburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority, stated, “On behalf of the commissioners the state has incorporated the state code as I stated Title 36-11.1:1 that commissioners can receive a stipend for up to $500 for services rendered if budget allows. So, we just wanted to get that in our agenda and paperwork as a resolution.” Council Member Myers made a motion to approve the resolution approving the request from the Petersburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority for a stipend for up to $500 for members of the Petersburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority to the city council agenda. Vice Mayor Smith-Lee seconded the motion. Council Member Cuthbert made a substitute motion to table until council’s business meeting in September. The motion was seconded by Council Member Wilson-Smith. There was discussion on the motion. The motion was not approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert and Wilson-Smith; Voting No: Myers, Westbrook, Hill, Smith-Lee, and Parham The original motion goes back on the floor. Council Member Myers made a motion to approve the resolution approving the request from the Petersburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority for a stipend for up to $500 for members of the Petersburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority to the city council agenda. Vice Mayor Smith-Lee seconded the motion. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting no: Cuthbert and Wilson-Smith; Voting Yes: Myers, Westbrook, Hill, Smith-Lee, and Parham 22-R-46 A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE STIPEND FOR COMMISSIONERS OF THE PETERSBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO SECTION 36-11.1:1 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA. 3. ADJOURNMENT: City Council adjourned at 5:45 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Mayor *Audio available upon request.