OF THE NEWPORT NEWS CITY COUNCIL

HELD IN THE 10^TH FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM

2400 WASHINGTON AVENUE

5:47 P.M.

 

PRESENT:       Joe S. Frank; Madeline McMillan; Sharon P. Scott; Joseph C. Whitaker; Charles C. Allen; and Herbert H. Bateman, Jr.--6

ABSENT:         William F. Haskins--1

OTHERS PRESENT:    Randy W. Hildebrandt; Stuart E. Katz; Mabel V. Washington; Allen L. Jackson; K.M. Blanks; William P. Mitchell; Alan Archer; Lottie Vincent;  and Jennifer Walker

      After ascertaining that proper meeting notice had been provided to each member of City Council, Mayor Frank called the meeting to order and stated the meeting was being held for the following purposes:

(1)     To call a closed meeting pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A) of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, subsections:  (1) a discussion or consideration of appointments to boards and commissions; and the evaluation of the performance of the City Clerk; and (7) consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members pertaining to probable litigation, where such consultation or briefing in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body.

(2)          To make appointments to fill vacancies on the City’s various boards, commissions, and committees.

Councilwoman McMillan moved for a closed meeting under sections and reasons cited above; seconded by Councilman Whitaker.

                                    After reconvening in open session, Councilwoman Scott moved to certify that to the best of each member’s knowledge (1) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, and (2) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed or considered in the closed meeting by the Council. Motion seconded by Councilman Whitaker.

                        Potential candidates, discussed at the June 10, 2007 Special Meeting of City Council, were subject to a background check conducted by the Newport News Police Department.

Councilwoman McMillan moved that appointments which were discussed in the Special Meeting of June 12, 2007 be ratified; seconded by Councilwoman Scott.

1.      Board of Appeals – One vacancy (Architect).

2.      Cable Television Advisory Commission – One vacancy (General Public Representative) deferred.

3.      Commission on Youth – Ms. Janice Keene (Agency/Organization Representative) appointed to serve a four-year term of office. Mr. William Blake Burnette (Adult Representative) appointed to fill the unexpired term of Mr. John Solomon, term expires June 30, 2010. Mr. Steve Kast (Agency/Organization Representative), Ms. Lisha Shannon (Agency/Organization Representative), Mr. John Miller (Adult Representative), Ms. June Owens (Adult Representative), and Ms. Bernice Tennyson (Adult Representative) each reappointed to serve a four-year term of office.

                     Ms. Lonnetta Heckstal (Youth Representative - PCHS), Ms. Quintessence Johnson (Youth Representative – WSHS) and Mr. Matthew Abegounis (Youth Representative – MHS) each reappointed to serve a one-year term of office. Ms. Kelly Clifton (Youth Representative – PCHS), Ms. Samantha Webster (Youth Representative – DHS), Mr. Devin Harris Wolf (Youth Representative – HRA), and Ms. Meheret Shumet (Youth Representative – WHS) each appointed to serve a one-year term of office. One appointment (Mayor’s Youth Commission) deferred. 

4.             Downing-GrossCulturalArtsCenter Board – Dr. Rudolph Freeman (General Public Representative) appointed to serve a three-year term of office. Ms. Marcia Price (General Public Representative) appointed to fill the unexpired term of Reverend Dr. William J. Marshall, term expires October 28, 2009. Ms. Gail Jones (General Public Representative) appointed to fill the unexpired term of Ms. Barbara Minnis, term expires October 28, 2007. 

5.             Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board – Ms. Gisele Russell (General Public Representative) reappointed to serve a three-year term of office. Ms. Gloria Morgan (General Public Representative) and Ms. Robin A. Abbott (General Public Representative) each appointed to serve a three-year term of office.

6.             Newport News Arts Commission - Ms. Nina Kinney (General Public Representative) reappointed to serve a three-year term office. Two appointments (Youth Representatives) deferred.

7.             Newport News Human Rights Commission – Mr. Dean Longo (General Public Representative) reappointed to serve a four-year term of office. Ms. Joy Jackson (General Public Representative), Mr. James O’Donnell (General Public Representative), and Mr. James Lash (General Public Representative) each appointed go serve a four-year term of office. Two appointments (Youth Representatives) deferred. 

8.             Newport News Mayor’s Committee on Disabilities – Ms. Betsy Ellis (Consumer) and Mr. Richard Marsh (Consumer) each reappointed to serve a three-year term of office. Mr. Donald Fennell (Provider/Consumer), Mr. Lawrence Gholson (Provider), Mr. James Pickard (Provider/Consumer) and Ms. Jean Skorupa (Provider) each appointed to serve a three-year term of office. One appointment deferred.

9.             Newport News Public Library Board of Directors – Three appointments (General Public Representative and two Youth Representatives) deferred.

 10.       Newport News Wetlands Board – Ms. Donna Darnley (General Public Representative) appointed to serve a five-year term of office.

 11.       Newsome House Museum & Cultural Center Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors   Four appointments (General Public Representatives) deferred.

 12.       North End/Huntington Heights Architectural Review Board – One appointment (General Public Representative) deferred.

 13.      Social Services Advisory Board – Ms. Jennifer Austin (General Public Representative) and Ms. Carissa Kopp (General Public Representative) each reappointed to serve a four-year term of office. Mr. Robert E. Thomas (General Public Representative), Ms. Denise Binns-Banks (General Public Representative) and Ms. Stacey Tidwell (General Public Representative) each appointed to serve a four-year term of office.

THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS,

ON MOTION, COUNCIL ADJOURNED AT 5:58 P.M.