City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on July 5, 2023 -1– The Closed Session Meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Wednesday, July 5, 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 W. Howard Myers Council Member Arnold Westbrook, Jr. Vice Mayor Darrin Hill Mayor Samuel Parham Absent: Council Member Charles H. Cuthbert, Jr. Council Member Marlow Jones Council Member Annette Smith-Lee 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)(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 delinquent real property tax cases; law enforcement alternatives relating to public housing; 22.1-100 of the Code of Virginia; and matters requiring legal advice of the City Attorney under §2.2-3711(A)(3) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of discussion or consideration of the acquisition 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 or disposition 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: Myers, Westbrook, Hill, and Parham; Absent: Cuthbert, Jones, and Smith- Lee The City Council entered closed session at 3:06 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 state prior to the vote indicating the substance for departure in which he believes has occurred. This requires a roll call vote Mr. Mayor.” Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on July 5, 2023 -2– Vice Mayor Hill made a motion to return the 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: Jones, Smith-Lee, Myers, Westbrook, Hill, and Parham; Absent: Cuthbert 23-R-42 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 5:00pm 3. ADJOURNMENT: The City Council adjourned at 5:00 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Mayor