Roanoke City Council unanimously votes to enter closed sessions on vacancies, property and contract matters

At a reconvened Roanoke City Council meeting, council members voted unanimously to enter a series of closed sessions to discuss vacancies on city-appointed authorities, boards and commissions; legal advice on acquisition and disposition of city property; prospective business recruitment and expansion; potential disposal of publicly owned property; regional park business matters; personnel matters concerning council-appointed officers; and contract obligations involving a city-owned facility.

Council took the votes after the mayor asked for motions to convene the closed meetings under exemptions in the Code of Virginia governing closed meetings for consultations on personnel, legal advice and economic development. The motions cited Code of Virginia § 2.2-3711(A)(1), (A)(3), (A)(5) and (A)(8) as the bases for the closed sessions.

For each motion the council recorded unanimous roll-call approval. The council identified the items as: vacancies on specified authorities, boards and commissions appointed by the council; legal consultation about acquisition of city property in the southeast part of Roanoke and disposition of city-owned property in Botetourt County; consultation regarding a prospective business or industry or expansion where no prior announcement has been made; negotiation strategy concerning disposal of publicly owned property in the central city; consultation regarding a prospective business in which the city is partnered at a regional park; personnel matters concerning council-appointed officers; and legal advice about contract obligations involving a city facility in the central city.

Council members who moved and seconded the motions were named on the record for the respective items (for example, Councilman Hagen and Councilwoman Sanchez Jones were acknowledged when the first motion was made). The clerk conducted roll-call votes for each motion, with the following members recorded as voting "aye": Sanchez Jones; Vice Mayor McGuire; Nash; Vollison; Powers; Hagen; Lisonbee; and Mayor Cobb. The mayor announced the motions passed each time and the council recessed to prepare for the closed meetings.

By statute, the council may meet in closed session to consult with legal counsel, discuss personnel, or consider the expansion or prospective location of an industry before a public announcement. The council then recessed until scheduled closed meetings in the council conference room.

Minutes and any public declarations required after returning from closed session will be made to the public record consistent with state law.