Charlotte County Electoral Board certifies closed-session compliance after registrar interviews

The Charlotte County Electoral Board met Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022, at the temporary registrar’s office at 117 Legrand Avenue in Charlotte Court House to interview applicants for the county registrar position. Present were Electoral Board members Glenwood Foster, Glenn Baker and Aubrey Fane, and Heather Harding, registrar for Halifax County.

Glenn Baker called the meeting to order. "Mr. Foster made the motion to go into closed session for discussion of personnel," the minutes record; Foster’s motion was seconded by Aubrey Fane and "motion was passed without dissenting vote." The board recessed into an executive session to discuss personnel related to the registrar recruitment.

After the executive session, Glenwood Foster moved to return to open session; Fane seconded, and the motion again passed without dissent. On returning to open session the board read a resolution noting that the meeting had convened an executive session "pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act" and citing Code of Virginia §2.2-3712, which requires certification that closed meetings were conducted in conformity with state law.

A roll-call certification vote was taken and recorded as follows: Aubrey Fane — aye; Glenn Baker — aye; Glenwood Foster — aye. The board’s resolution states it certified that "to the best of each member’s knowledge only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the executive meeting."

Glenwood Foster then moved to adjourn; Aubrey Fane seconded, the motion passed without dissent, and the meeting was adjourned. The board noted it has not yet reorganized to determine who will serve as chair and secretary; that reorganization is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022, at 1:00 p.m.

No formal hiring decision or vote on individual applicants was recorded in the minutes provided.