Newport News council enters closed session to discuss potential northern property acquisition; approves committee and liaison assignments

Newport News City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 14 to hold a closed meeting to discuss acquisition of real property in the northern section of the city and later approved committee and liaison assignments presented at the council retreat.

At the meeting, a councilmember moved that the council convene a closed meeting “pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A)(3) of the Code of Virginia” to discuss the acquisition of real property where public discussion would adversely affect the city’s bargaining position or negotiating strategy. The motion was moved and seconded and carried on a roll-call vote of 6–0. The roll call recorded votes in the affirmative from Vice Mayor Bethany, Councilman Coleman, Councilman Ealy, Councilman Harris, Mayor Jones and Councilman Long.

After the closed session, council certified in a roll-call vote that, to the best of each member’s knowledge, only public business matters exempted from open meeting requirements were discussed. That certification motion carried 6–0.

Council also voted to accept the council committees, liaisons and regional board billets as presented at the council retreat; that motion, moved and seconded during new business, passed by roll call, 6–0. The council president said communications staff would publish the committee and liaison list on the city’s online channels the next day.

The council did not disclose details of the property under discussion during the open meeting beyond the stated northern location. No ordinance, contract or other legal instrument was approved on the public record during the session.