Franklin City Council authorizes severance talks, directs negotiation for interim manager and approves outside hiring search

FRANKLIN CITY — Franklin City Council convened a special meeting in which members approved a closed session under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, authorized outside counsel to negotiate a severance for the former city manager, directed top elected officials to negotiate for an interim city manager, and approved continuing a recruitment contract with an outside firm.

The council voted to adjourn into closed session after a member read the motion citing Virginia Code section 2.2-3711 and related subsections for discussions including prospective candidate appointments, investments of public funds involving bargaining and review of bidders or offers. "We give Sands Anderson authority to negotiate as discussed in closed session, the severance pay for our former city manager," said the member who moved that motion (speaker 5).

The closed session was followed by a certification vote in open session required under state law. A staff member asked the council to "certify to the best of each member's knowledge" that only matters exempted from open meeting requirements and identified in the motion were discussed in closed session. The motion to certify carried by voice vote; one member stated, "Not certified," during the roll call.

On personnel actions, the council approved authorizing the law firm Sands Anderson to negotiate a severance package for the former city manager; the motion passed with multiple 'aye' responses and one recorded abstention. The council then considered an interim-manager appointment: after withdrawing an earlier motion and resubmitting, members voted to authorize the vice mayor and the mayor to negotiate terms with Lincoln Saunders to serve as interim city manager.

Council members also voted to accept the Berkeley Group's proposal to continue the search for several positions the city is recruiting to fill. The mover described the action as continuing the hiring search; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

The meeting record shows the council deferred action on a separate school-board appointment until the required public hearing next Monday, noting that state code requires that timeline. The meeting moved toward adjournment after the hiring-search motion carried.

What happens next: The Berkeley Group will continue its search work as authorized by the council; the mayor and vice mayor were empowered to negotiate terms with Lincoln Saunders for interim management; and Sands Anderson was authorized to pursue severance negotiations. The item on the school-board appointment was carried forward to the public hearing scheduled for next Monday, per the council's statement.