Council votes to convene closed session on appointments, personnel, downtown real estate and prospective businesses

The council voted to enter a closed session after the clerk read the required statutory motion. The motion, read pursuant to Virginia Code §2.2‑3711(a)(1),(3),(5),(8), listed the following purposes: appointments to boards and commissions, discussion of the performance of the city manager and clerk of council, consideration of the disposition of publicly held real property in the downtown area where public discussion would adversely affect the city’s bargaining position, and discussion of prospective businesses where no prior announcement has been made of the business’s interest in locating in the city.

A member moved and another seconded the motion. The clerk then called the roll for a vote. The transcript records recorded responses of "Aye" from Councilman Bowman, Councilman Brown, Councilwoman Harper, Councilman Hobbs, Councilwoman Mugler and the mayor. Vice Mayor Gray stated she would not participate in the discussion regarding prospective businesses but said she would vote yes on the remainder of the items; the clerk recorded the other members' affirmative votes and the council recessed to reconvene in the community development conference room at 3:15.

Motion text (as read): the council convenes a closed session pursuant to Virginia Code sections 2.2‑3711(a)(1),(3),(5),(8) to discuss appointments to boards and commissions; the performance of the city manager and clerk of council; disposition of publicly held real property in the downtown area where open discussion would adversely affect bargaining position; and prospective businesses where no announcement has been made of the business’s interest in locating in the city.

Outcome: motion carried; council recessed to closed session with the roll call recorded on the public record.