Council approves remote participation for Council Member Hall under Virginia code

Fairfax City Council voted unanimously Oct. 7 to allow Council Member Hall to participate remotely in the council work session under Code of Virginia §2.2-3708.2 and the city’s adopted remote-participation policy.

At the start of the special meeting Mayor Reid called for a motion to approve remote participation. A council member moved to approve Hall’s request as properly submitted in writing prior to the meeting and “subject to compliance with the requirements outlined in the city council adopted policy and applicable law,” the motion said. Another council member seconded and the body took a roll-call vote.

During the roll call Council Member Hardy Chandler, Council Member Peterson and Council Member Bates were recorded as voting “aye.” The motion was announced in the meeting transcript as having “passed unanimously.” The city indicated the action was taken under Code of Virginia section 2.2-3708.2 and the city council’s own policy for remote attendance.

The approval allowed Council Member Hall to participate remotely for all or portions of the Oct. 7 work session. The council did not take other related votes during that motion and no councilmember commentary about the remote request was recorded in the motion’s portion of the transcript.

City staff handled the procedural steps required by state law and the council’s policy before the vote; the council’s motion referenced that Hall’s request had been submitted in writing in advance of the meeting.

The authorization for Hall’s remote participation is reflected in the meeting minutes and will be recorded as a formal action from the Oct. 7 special meeting.