Petersburg council votes in closed session to withdraw appeal in Circuit Court case and to authorize utility settlement

The Petersburg City Council voted during a closed session to direct the city attorney to withdraw the city’s appeal in Petersburg Circuit Court case number 25-409 and to authorize settlement of a disputed utility account, the council recorded.

A motion "to direct city attorney to withdraw the city's appeal in the Petersburg Circuit Court case number 25Dash409" was made, seconded and approved by roll call. Miss Hill called the roll; Council member Westbrook, Council member Smith Lee, Vice mayor Hill and Mayor Perrin were recorded as voting "Aye." The presiding officer announced, "That motion carries." (Council recorded motion and roll call during the closed session.)

The council then moved and voted to enter and conduct a closed session citing exemptions under the Code of Virginia for discussion of acquisition and disposition of real property, probable or actual litigation and legal advice, investment of public funds and public-contract negotiations. The council later certified that only matters lawfully identified in the motion had been discussed and recorded a certification vote.

Separately, the council voted to add to the agenda a motion authorizing the city manager and city attorney to settle a disputed claim involving a utility account. Vice mayor Hill moved to add the item, Council member Westbrook seconded and the council approved the addition by voice vote.

Following that addition, the council approved a motion authorizing settlement of the disputed utility account identified in the motion as account number 7716508, service number 651-2195, "consistent with the terms of the 12/05/2025 correspondence." Vice mayor Hill moved the authorization and Councilman Spiffley seconded; the council approved the authorization by voice vote and the chair announced the motion carries.

What the actions mean: withdrawing the appeal removes the city from active appellate litigation in the referenced Petersburg Circuit Court case and the authorized settlement allows city staff to finalize terms for resolving a contested utility account consistent with the referenced correspondence. The transcript does not record the substance of negotiation terms, the settlement amount (if any), or any public rationale given for withdrawal of the appeal.

Next steps and public records: The council’s actions were taken in closed session under Virginia statutory exemptions. The transcript records the motions, roll-call and voice votes but does not include details of the closed-session discussions or the settlement terms. Any formal settlement documents or filings withdrawing the appeal would appear in the circuit court docket and the city’s public records if and when released.