Petersburg council convenes closed session on property, personnel and legal matters including sewage-claim and broadband-authority statutes

PETERSBURG, Va. — The Petersburg City Council moved March 4 to enter a closed session under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to discuss the acquisition and disposition of real property, personnel matters involving specific city employees, and to receive legal advice on litigation and other legal matters including a sewage backup claim and the potential creation of a broadband authority.

At the start of the meeting, the council voted to remove several listed items from the closed-session agenda and to add discussion of the legal requirements of Code of Virginia §15.2-4903 and §15.2-4904, specifically citing the statutes in connection with a sewage backup claim and the creation of a broadband authority. The motion to revise the closed-session agenda was moved by Vice Mayor Hill and seconded by Council member Westbrook; the council voted in favor.

The council then voted to convene in closed session “pursuant to” §2.2-3711(A)(3) of the Code of Virginia for discussion of the acquisition and disposition of real property and “pursuant to” §2.2-3711(A)(8) for discussion related to performance, assignment and appointment of specific public employees of the city. The motion also stated the council would receive legal advice and a status update from the city attorney concerning actual or probable litigation and other legal matters. The motion to enter closed session was moved by Council member Westbrook and seconded by Vice Mayor Hill and carried on a voice vote.

After the closed session the council reconvened in public and certified the closed meeting in accordance with Va. Code §2.2-3712(C). A roll-call certification motion was made and carried; all members present voted that, to the best of their knowledge, only exempted public business was discussed and considered as stated in the motion. The record shows the certification roll call returned unanimous “aye” votes from Council member Cuthbert, Council member Jones, Council member Myers, Council member Westbrook, Council member Smith Lee, Vice Mayor Hill and Mayor Perrin.

The council’s public record does not disclose the substance of the closed deliberations. The only on-the-record details are the statutory authorities the council cited when moving into closed session and that the council later certified the closed meeting. No confidential findings, settlement terms, property descriptions or personnel decisions were announced on the public record at the close of the session.

Later in the meeting, after certification, the council took a separate public action directing the city manager to prepare a supplemental appropriation ordinance for Oak Hill Bridge repairs.