Council approves $5,000 support for local wellness summit; moves into closed session on legal and property matters

During the work session the council approved a $5,000 sponsorship request for the 2025 Excel Summit / Remind You Wellness event, sponsored by Dr. Norwood, scheduled March 7–9, 2025. A motion to provide $5,000 passed on a roll call; the presiding officer announced “Motion carries 6‑0.”

Later the council moved to convene a closed session under Virginia law. Councilman Long moved that the council meet in closed session pursuant to Section 2.2‑3711(A) of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, for consultation with legal counsel regarding probable litigation; discussion of disposition of publicly held property where public discussion would adversely affect bargaining strategy (a potential disposition in the southern section of the city); and discussion of acquisition of real property for public use where public discussion would adversely affect negotiating position (a potential acquisition in the central section of the city). The motion was seconded and carried on roll call; the presiding officer announced “Motion carried 6‑0.”

After returning from closed session, council members moved to certify that, to the best of their knowledge, only the public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements were discussed and only those matters were heard; that certification motion passed on roll call with the presiding officer announcing “Motion carried 6‑0.”

No additional formal votes or ordinance adoptions were recorded in the public transcript for this meeting. The transcript does not show the names of the six council members who voted for the sponsorship and the closed‑session motions beyond the roll‑call procedure and the recorded tally of 6‑0.