Fluvanna County board convenes closed session, approves settlement of property-damage claims 4-0

The Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors reconvened from a closed session April 9 and voted 4-0 to accept settlement agreements and releases of property-damage claims with Absolute Plumbing and Drain Cleaning Services Incorporated, BKC Investments LLC and the Cincinnati Insurance Company.

Before the closed session, the board voted to convene privately under the Virginia open-meetings exemptions cited in the motion as "section 2.2-3711(a)(1) and section 2.2-3711(a)(8)," to discuss personnel matters involving employees of the Department of Emergency Services and legal matters related to insurance proceeds from a fire at the pit store building. The motion to enter closed session was made by Supervisor Pond and seconded by the chair; the board approved the closed session.

Supervisor Tony O'Brien, participating remotely, said he would abstain from the closed session discussion because he would not be able to participate in private deliberations while remote. The board proceeded and later reconvened in open session.

When the board returned to open session, a motion to certify that only public-business matters lawfully exempted under section 2.2-3711(a) had been discussed was made and passed. The board then moved to accept the settlement agreements and releases of property-damage claims; the motion was made by Supervisor Hyde, seconded by Supervisor Goodall, and passed by a recorded voice vote of 4-0.

The transcript records the approved motion to "accept the settle agreement and release of property damage claims with Absolute Plumbing and Drain Cleaning Services Incorporated, BKC Investments LLC, and the Cincinnati Insurance Company." The board did not state settlement amounts in the public record provided in the meeting transcript.

After the vote on settlements, the board moved to adjourn; that motion passed by voice vote.

Clarifying details from the meeting: the closed session was convened under the exemptions verbally cited as sections 2.2-3711(a)(1) and 2.2-3711(a)(8) of the Code of Virginia as stated in the motion; Supervisor O'Brien said he would abstain from closed-session participation; the settlement motion passed by a 4-0 voice vote. The transcript does not record monetary terms for the settlements or further details of the claims.