City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on March 21, 2023 -1– The Closed Session Meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at the Petersburg Public Library. Mayor Parham called the Closed Session Meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member Charles H. Cuthbert, Jr. Council Member Annette Smith-Lee Council Member W. Howard Myers Council Member Arnold Westbrook, Jr. Vice Mayor Darrin Hill Mayor Samuel Parham Absent: Council Member Marlow Jones (absent during 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: a. The purpose of this meeting is to convene in the closed session pursuant to §2.2-3711(A)(1) 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, assignment and appointment of a specific public officer of the City of Petersburg; 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 business’ or industry’s interest in locating or expanding its facilities in the community; and under §2.2-3711(A)(29) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of discussion regarding the subject matter of a public contract involving the expenditure of funds and terms or scope of such contract where discussion in an open session would adversely affect the bargaining or negotiating strategy of the public body, specifically including but not limited to the discussion of the award and terms of public contract. 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. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Smith-Lee, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, and Parham; Absent: Jones City Council entered closed session at 4:02 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 *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on March 21, 2023 -2– 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 Jones 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-24 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, “Now at this time I will entertain a motion to add an MOU regarding funding and construction of a sports complex facility at Petersburg High School to tonight’s agenda.” Vice Mayor Hill made a motion to add an MOU regarding funding and construction of a sport’s complex facility at Petersburg High School to tonight’s agenda. 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 Mayor Parham stated, “Next, I will entertain a motion to authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to execute the MOU for the sports training facility at Petersburg High School.” Vice Mayor Hill made a motion to authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to execute the MOU for the sports training facility at Petersburg High School. 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 Mayor Parham stated, “Next, I will entertain a motion to add a resolution between City of Petersburg Public Schools and the City of Petersburg to work in furtherance of securing broadband internet providers for the city and the school board.” Council Member Myers made a motion to add a resolution between City of Petersburg Public Schools and the City of Petersburg to work in furtherance of securing broadband internet providers for the city and the school board. Vice Mayor 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, Jones, Smith-Lee, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, and Parham Mayor Parham stated, “Next, I will entertain a motion for the City Manager and City Attorney to work together and to approve the resolution to execute the broadband internet providers for the city and school board.” Vice Mayor Hill made a motion for the City Manager and City Attorney to work together to approve the resolution to execute the broadband internet providers for the city and school board. Council Member Smith- Lee seconded the motion. There was no discussion on the motion. The motion was approved on roll call vote. *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on March 21, 2023 -3– On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Jones, Smith-Lee, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, and Parham 23-R-25 A JOINT RESOLUTION BETWEEN THE CITY OF PETERSBURG AND PETERSBURG CITY SCHOOL BOARD TO WORK TOGETHER IN FURTHERANCE OF SECURING A HIGH- SPEED BROADBAND INTERNET PROVIDER FOR THE CITY AND SCHOOL BOARD. 3. ADJOURNMENT: City Council adjourned at 5:38 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Mayor *Audio available upon request.