Essex supervisors enter closed session on property and litigation, then certify compliance

The Essex County Board of Supervisors voted to convene a closed session to discuss acquisition of real property for public purposes and consultation with legal counsel on probable litigation. The motion cited the Code of Virginia exemptions for closed meetings and listed several Essex Circuit Court case numbers.

An unidentified board member moved that the board "convene in closed meeting pursuant to [Code of Virginia] § 2.2‑3711(A)(3) for discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose" and § 2.2‑3711(A)(7) for legal consultation; a second was recorded and the motion passed on a voice vote. The motion text included specific case identifiers: CL23‑135, CO24‑169, CO24‑187, CO25‑50, CO25‑171, CO25‑174 and CL25‑182 as matters to be discussed.

After the closed session the board reconvened in open session and, following the process required by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, each member certified that only matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements were discussed. The roll call certification was recorded with each listed member stating "I certify." No public action or vote on the substance of the matters discussed in closed session was reported in open session.

Next steps: No public decisions were announced; the board will proceed according to legal advice and any future open‑session actions will be reported when appropriate.