Anniston City Council adjourns into executive session to discuss real estate and trade negotiations

During a second 2026 special session, the Anniston City Council adjourned into executive session to consider the purchase, sale, exchange, lease or market value of real property and to discuss preliminary negotiations involving trade or commerce, an unidentified speaker said.

The council first approved the special session agenda by roll call after a motion and second. The clerk called the roll and Council members Downey, Harrington and Moss and Mayor Smith Ralston recorded “yes” votes, and the presiding speaker announced the agenda was approved.

The presiding speaker then moved that the council go into executive session to discuss real property matters and preliminary negotiations involving trade or commerce, saying on the record that disclosure “would have a detrimental effect upon the city's competitive position or upon location retention expansion or grading of a business entity.” The motion was seconded and the clerk again called the roll. Councilmembers voted to adjourn into executive session.

Before leaving for closed session the presiding speaker said on the record, “We will not return to deliberate or vote on any matters discussed in the executive session.” The meeting was then adjourned into executive session and no further public action or votes were taken during the open meeting.

No statutes, ordinance numbers, contract identifiers or specific properties were named in the public record. The transcript records only the council’s stated subject matter for closed discussion and the procedural votes to approve the agenda and move into executive session.