City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on May 16, 2023 -1– The Closed Session Meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at the Petersburg Public Library. Mayor Parham called the Closed Session Meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: 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) Council Member Charles H. Cuthbert, Jr. 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)(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; 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 the Virginia Conflict of Interest Act of the Code of Virginia and matters requiring legal advice of the City Attorney, 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. Council Member Myers made a motion that the City Council go into closed session for the purposes noted. 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: Smith-Lee, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, and Parham; Absent: Cuthbert and Jones The City Council entered closed session at 3:07 p.m. CERTIFICATION: Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on May 16, 2023 -2– 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 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 the 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: Jones, Smith-Lee, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, and Parham; Absent: Cuthbert 23-R-36 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 5:52pm Mayor Parham stated that he will entertain a motion to add a motion to authorize the city manager to execute an extension of the purchase agreement for the Suttle Properties and to add a motion to adopt a resolution to direct the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to sell the properties at 119 and 130 Pocahontas to the City of Petersburg. Council Member Myers made a motion to add a motion to authorize the city manager to execute an extension of the purchase agreement for the Suttle Properties and to add a motion to adopt a resolution to direct the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to sell the properties at 119 and 130 Pocahontas to the City of Petersburg. Vice Mayor Hill seconded the motion. The motion was approved on voice vote. On voice vote, voting yes: Jones, Smith-Lee, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, and Parham; Absent: Cuthbert Council Member Myers made a motion to authorize the city manager to execute an extension of the purchase agreement for the Suttle Properties. Vice Mayor Hill seconded the motion. The motion was approved on voice vote. On voice vote, voting yes: Jones, Smith-Lee, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, and Parham; Absent: Cuthbert Council Member Myers made a motion to approve the resolution to direct the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to sell the properties at 119 and 130 Pocahontas to the City of Petersburg. Vice Mayor Hill seconded the motion. The motion was approved on voice vote. On voice vote, voting yes: Jones, Smith-Lee, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, and Parham; Absent: Cuthbert 23-R-37 A RESOLUTION TO DIRECT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO DISPOSE OF THE PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 130 POCAHONTAS AND 119 POCAHONTAS STREET (TAX PARCELS 007-07-0009 AND 007-08-0003) “THE ROPER PROPERTIES” BY CONVEYING SAID PROPERTIES TO THE CITY OF PETERSBURG FOR $1. Mayor Parham stated he would entertain a motion to add to the agenda the memorandum of Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on May 16, 2023 -3– understanding between the Petersburg High Stadium Enhancement Committee and the Petersburg City School Board and the City of Petersburg for the purpose of funding and constructing a sports training center at Petersburg High School. Council Member Myers made a motion to add to the agenda the memorandum of understanding between the Petersburg High Stadium Enhancement Committee and the Petersburg City School Board and the City of Petersburg for the purpose of funding and constructing a sports training center at Petersburg High School. Council Member Westbrook seconded the motion. The motion was approved on voice vote. On voice vote, voting yes: Jones, Smith-Lee, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, and Parham; Absent: Cuthbert Vice Mayor Hill made a motion to approve memorandum of understanding between the Petersburg High Stadium Enhancement Committee and the Petersburg City School Board and the City of Petersburg for the purpose of funding and constructing a sports training center at Petersburg High School. Council Member Myers seconded the motion. The motion was approved on voice vote. On voice vote, voting yes: Jones, Smith- Lee, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, and Parham; Absent: Cuthbert . 3. ADJOURNMENT: The City Council adjourned at 5:55 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Mayor