The Newport News City Council at its Jan. 14 work session moved into a closed session and took related procedural votes.

The council voted to convene a closed meeting under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act exception for certain real‑estate negotiations. The motion read in part: “I move that pursuant to section 2.2 to… 3711 a of the Code of Virginia as amended subsection 3, Council hold a closed meeting for the purpose of a discussion consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose where discussion of opening would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the city. The subject which is potential acquisition of real property in the northern section of the city.” The motion was moved and seconded and the council conducted a roll call; the motion passed 6-0.

After the closed meeting the council certified that, to the best of each member’s knowledge, only public business matters exempted by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act were discussed and that only matters identified in the motion had been heard, discussed or considered. The certification motion was moved and seconded; the roll call recorded the certification as passed 6-0.

Finally, the council voted to accept the council committees, liaisons and regional board assignments presented during the council retreat. That motion was moved and seconded and passed by roll call, 6-0. The mayor said communications staff would publish the committee and liaison list on Newport News Now the following day.

Roll-call information recorded on the meeting record indicated unanimous yes votes from the six councilmembers present. No substantive details of the closed session were disclosed in the public record.