Statham City Council holds closed session on property negotiations, ratifies actions in open session

Statham City Council met in a special called meeting at the Statham Community Center on July 29, 2025. The council entered an executive session at 10:02 a.m. to discuss negotiations to purchase, dispose of or lease property and to consult with legal counsel under the attorney‑client privilege, citing the applicable exceptions in the Georgia Open Meetings Act. The motion to enter executive session was made by Councilmember Penn and seconded by Councilmember Patterson; the roll-call vote recorded Councilmembers Terilli, Bogenrieder, Patterson, Penn and Burnette as voting Yes and the motion passed 5‑0.

According to the meeting record and a sworn affidavit filed with the minutes, Mayor Debi Krause presided over the closed portion and the matters discussed were identified as permitted exceptions under O.C.G.A. §50‑14 (including §50‑14‑3(b)(1)(B) for property negotiations and §50‑14‑2(1) for attorney‑client privileged consultation). The affidavit, signed and notarized July 29, 2025, was directed to be included in the official minutes per statutory requirements.

The council moved to exit the executive session at 10:27 a.m.; Councilmember Penn made the motion and Councilmember Burnette seconded. The roll-call vote again recorded all five councilmembers voting Yes and the motion passed 5‑0. The minutes note that no votes were taken during the closed session. After returning to open session, the council adopted a resolution ratifying the closed‑session discussions and directing the mayor to execute the required affidavit for filing with the public minutes. The meeting adjourned at 10:28 a.m. following a motion by Councilmember Patterson, seconded by Councilmember Penn, which passed on a 5‑0 vote.

Attendees listed in the minutes included Mayor Debi Krause; Councilmembers Terilli, Bogenrieder, Patterson, Penn and Burnette; City Attorney Jody Campbell; City Clerk Nicole Sapp; and City Administrator Cheryl Venable. The minutes and accompanying affidavit cite the Georgia Code sections governing closed meetings and confirm the council’s finding that the topics fell within the statutory exceptions. The resolution text states it was approved July 29, 2025, and the affidavit was filed with the official minutes.

The city did not record substantive policy votes or public debate in open session during this special meeting; the proceedings focused on the lawful use of the executive‑session exceptions and the formal ratification and filing steps required by state law.

Next steps: the affidavit will be included with the official minutes per O.C.G.A. §50‑14‑4(b). No additional agenda items or follow‑up actions were recorded in the minutes for this session.