City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on January 17, 2023 -1– ______________________________________________________________________________ The Closed Session Meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at the Petersburg Public Library. Mayor Parham called the Closed Session Meeting to order at 4:00p.m. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member Charles H. Cuthbert, Jr. Council Member Marlow Jones Council Member Annette Smith-Lee Council Member W. Howard Myers Vice Mayor Darrin Hill Mayor Samuel Parham Absent: Council Member Arnold Westbrook, Jr. (Arrived after roll call) Present from City Administration: Clerk of Council Nykesha D. Lucas City Manager John March Altman, Jr. City Attorney Anthony Williams 2. CLOSED SESSION: Mayor Parham stated, “I would entertain a motion to discussion the acquisition of real property to tonight’s closed session.” Council Member Myers made a motion to add the discussion to closed session. Vice Mayor Hill seconded the motion. There was no discussion on the motion, which was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Jones, Smith-Lee, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, and Parham 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 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 limit the legal advice to discussion regarding Petersburg Circuit Court Case No.: CL19000926-00 and matters requiring the legal advice of the city attorney; and under §2.2-3711(A)(5) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of discussion concerning a prospective business or industry or the expansion of an existing business or industry where no previous announcement has been made of the businesses or industry’ interest in locating or expanding its facilities in the community; under §2.2-3711(A)(1) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of discussion pertaining to performance, assignment, and appointment of a specific public officer of the City of Petersburg; 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 property where the discussion in an open meeting can affect the bargaining position or the negotiating strategy of the public body specifically including but not limited to the acquisition of real property. Vice Mayor Hill made a motion that the City Council go into closed session for the purposes noted. Council Member Smith-Lee seconded the motion. There was no discussion on the motion, which was approved on roll call vote. *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on January 17, 2023 -2– ______________________________________________________________________________ On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Jones, Smith-Lee, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, and Parham City Council entered closed session at 4:04 p.m. CERTIFICATION: Mr. Williams stated, “The Mayor would entertain a motion to conclude the closed session called today 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 in which he believes has occurred. This requires a roll call vote Mayor.” Vice Mayor Hill made a motion to return City Council into open session and certify the purposes of the closed session. Council Member Smith-Lee 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, Jones, Smith-Lee, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, and Parham 23-R-4 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 5:24 p.m. 3. ADJOURNMENT: City Council adjourned at 5:25 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Mayor *Audio available upon request.