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Roanoke council votes to hold multiple closed meetings on appointments and legal matters
Summary
Roanoke City Council approved several motions at its May 4 session to enter closed meetings to discuss board and commission vacancies, select two school-board trustees and consult on an active workers’ compensation litigation case. All motions passed on roll call votes.
Roanoke City Council on May 4 voted unanimously to convene a series of closed meetings to consider appointments and legal matters, the council announced at the start of its 9 a.m. session.
Mayor Joseph Cobb identified several items under the authority of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act that the council would discuss in closed session, asking the clerk to call the roll before each motion. The first request was to meet about vacancies on city authorities, boards, commissions and committees pursuant to Section 2.2‑3711(a)(1) of the Code of Virginia; council moved, seconded and recorded an affirmative roll-call vote.
A second closed‑session motion asked the council to meet to select two trustees for the Roanoke City School Board for terms beginning July 1, 2026, also under § 2.2‑3711(a)(1). The motion was moved and seconded and approved after a roll call in the council chamber.
Later the city attorney requested a closed meeting to consult with legal counsel about an active workers’ compensation litigation matter under § 2.2‑3711(a)(7). That motion likewise passed on a roll-call vote. Council also approved separate closed‑session requests relating to potential economic development negotiations under § 2.2‑3711(a)(5).
After the votes the mayor recessed the council and turned the meeting over to Vice Mayor McGuire, who convened the Legislative Committee for a scheduled federal brief and budget study. The council planned to reconvene in the afternoon after the closed sessions.
The council’s formal roll calls for the closed‑session motions recorded the presence and affirmative votes of members listed in the meeting transcript (the clerk called the roll and recorded votes as shown in the official minutes). The city will report any actions taken, if required by law, after returning to open session.
