Newport News council approves $20,000 for Southeast Community Day Parade, moves to closed session
June 09, 2026 | Newport News (Independent City), Virginia
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The Newport News City Council unanimously approved a $20,000 sponsorship for the Southeast Community Day Parade on June 9 and then voted to meet in closed session to consider appointments, evaluations and legal advice.
The mayor announced the parade sponsorship and identified Councilman Marcellus Harris as the sponsor. After a motion and a second, the clerk called the roll; each of the seven members voted in favor and the motion carried 7–0.
Shortly after the parade vote, Councilman Long moved that the council meet in closed session "pursuant to section 2.2 tech 3 7 1 1 tech 8 of the Code of Virginia 1950 as amended" for interviews of prospective appointees, performance evaluations of council appointees and consultation with legal counsel about curfew-law legal advice. The motion was seconded and carried on a 7–0 roll call.
A subsequent motion was made to certify that, to each member’s knowledge, only matters lawfully exempted from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act were discussed in closed session and only topics identified in the motion were heard; that certification passed on a 7–0 vote. The council then moved to ratify appointments made in closed session; the ratification carried 7–0.
Why it matters: the funding vote provides city support for a neighborhood cultural event, while the closed session and subsequent ratification indicate personnel or appointment actions were completed behind closed doors under state law. No specific appointment names or personnel actions were disclosed in the public portion of the transcript.
Next steps: the council adjourned public business and proceeded to the closed session as recorded in the meeting minutes.
The mayor announced the parade sponsorship and identified Councilman Marcellus Harris as the sponsor. After a motion and a second, the clerk called the roll; each of the seven members voted in favor and the motion carried 7–0.
Shortly after the parade vote, Councilman Long moved that the council meet in closed session "pursuant to section 2.2 tech 3 7 1 1 tech 8 of the Code of Virginia 1950 as amended" for interviews of prospective appointees, performance evaluations of council appointees and consultation with legal counsel about curfew-law legal advice. The motion was seconded and carried on a 7–0 roll call.
A subsequent motion was made to certify that, to each member’s knowledge, only matters lawfully exempted from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act were discussed in closed session and only topics identified in the motion were heard; that certification passed on a 7–0 vote. The council then moved to ratify appointments made in closed session; the ratification carried 7–0.
Why it matters: the funding vote provides city support for a neighborhood cultural event, while the closed session and subsequent ratification indicate personnel or appointment actions were completed behind closed doors under state law. No specific appointment names or personnel actions were disclosed in the public portion of the transcript.
Next steps: the council adjourned public business and proceeded to the closed session as recorded in the meeting minutes.
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