Minutes from thel Dumfries Town Special Council Meeting held on February 28, 2024  DUMFRIES TOWN SPECIALG COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2024 MEETING HELD IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS 17739 MAIN: STREET, DUMFRIES, VIRGINA  **A video recording oft this meeting is available on the Town's YouTube Channel. ntps/wwyowtube.comeogmoASwPaWLRLPOO.NAU  Mayor Wood called the town council meeting to order at 7:00pm.  1.  ROLL CALL: Present:  Mayor Derrick Wood Vice Mayor Monaé Nickerson Chair Pro Tem Selonia Miles Councilman Brian Fields Councilman Shaun Peet Councilman Tyrone Brown Counciwoman Caetrina Peterson  Absent:  None  Present from Town Administration:  Town Manager Tangela Innis Town Attorney Sandra R. Robinson Deputy Town Clerk Cheryl Santos Information Technology Specialist Evan Harris  2. 3.  PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:  Mayor Wood led the meeting in a moment of silence followed by the pledge of allegiance.  DECLARATION OF PURPOSE:  Mayor Wood stated that the purpose oft the meeting is pursuant to the Virginia Code $2.2-3711 (A)(7) and (A)(8) of the Code of Virginia to consult with legal counsel regarding probable litigation and specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice where such consultation in an open meeting would adversely affect the Town's litigating posture, as well as inquiry complaint and a code of ethics discussion.  4.  AUTHORIZE A CLOSED SESSION:  Chair Pro Tem Miles made a motion to go into closed session according to Code $2.2-3711 (A)(7) and (A)(8) of the Code of Virginia. Councilman Fields seconded the motion. The motion was approved on roll call.  On roll call vote, voting yes: Peterson, Brown, Peet, Fields, Miles, Nickerson, and Wood  The Town Council entered closed session at 7:04pm.    Minutes from the Dumfries Town Special Council Meeting held on February 28, 2024  -2  CERTIFICATION:  Chair Pro Tem Miles stated, "Whereas, the Town Council convened in a closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with Virginia Code $2.2-3711(A)7) and (8) and whereas Virginia Code $2.2-3712 requires a certification by the Town Council that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Town Council of the Town of Dumfries hereby certifies that to the best of each members knowledge that only public business matters lawfully exempt from the open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certification resolution implies and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convened in the closed meeting were heard, discussed, or considered by the Town Council. Any member who believes that there was a departure from the foregoing requirements should state prior to the vote indicating Chair Pro Tem Miles made a motion to enter back into open session according to the certification Code of Virginia as stated. Councilman Fields seconded the motion. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll  the substance of the departure on a motion made by myself."  call vote, voting yes: Peterson, Brown, Peet, Fields, Miles, Nickerson, and Wood  24-R-05  A RESOLUTION CERTIFYING, AS REQUIRED BY THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, SECTION 2.2- 3712, THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIRMENTS OF VIRGINIA LAW WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED SESSION, AND ONLY SUCH PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS AS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION CONVENING THE CLOSED  SESSION WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED, OR CONSIDERED.  The Town Council returned to open session at 8:07pm.  5.  DISCUSSIONACTION ITEMS:  a.  Legislative Inquiry/Complaint  Chair Pro Tem Miles stated, "Council is in receipt of a complaint regarding one ofi its members in which alleged the council was following upon the complaints because of favoritism. This complaint is not true. On the advice of counsel, the Council turned this complaint over to an outside law firm to look into and to take action as the facts and law required. We did this to avoid any claim that the council was affected by its relationship with the member, and to avoid claims of impropriety. We did this to ensure order and accountability, not to  avoid it." b.  Code of Ethics  Chair Pro Tem Miles stated, "Just very briefly, Iwill not keep anyone too long. Last week, I actually requested that this item appear on the agenda and coincidently we have been discussing a Code of Ethics just as a message out to citizens that we do uphold the strongest Code of Ethics for us as council members. And that we do embody transparency and value accountability. So, the Town Attorney did draft these, and we all had a chance to review them. Andlwould like to make a motion to approve the Code of Ethics as written."  Chair Pro Tem Miles made a motion to approve the Town of Dumfries Council Code of Ethics.  Councilman Fields seconded the motion.  Mayor Wood asked whether there was discussion on the motion.    Minutes from the Dumfries Town Special Council Meeting held on February 28, 2024  -3  Chair Pro Tem Miles stated, "In addition to this, Ihad also been talking to the Town Attorney about how other localities had enforced their Code of Ethics. So, Town Attorney, you talked about ordinances that go alongside the Code of Ethics. Would you be able to potentially draft an ordinance to present to us in a future  meeting for consideration?"  Ms. Robinson replied yes.  Chair Pro Tem Miles asked if this can be prepared and ready by Tuesday or the second meeting in Ms. Robinson stated that she can have a draft prepared by Tuesday. She stated that the question  March.  would be ifit will make it on the agenda in time. Mrs. Innis stated that it will make it in time.  Chair Pro Tem Miles stated okay and that she does not have any further items.  The motion goes back on the floor with a second.  Chair Pro Tem Miles made a motion to approve the Code of Ethics as written. Councilman Fields seconded the motion. The motion was approved on roll call. On roll call vote, voting yes: Peterson, Brown,  Peet, Fields, Miles, Nickerson, and Wood  6.  ADJOURNMENT:  Mayor Wood adjourned the meeting at 8:13p.m. Approved this the 19th day of March 2024.  By order of Council:  Derrick R.V Wood, Mayor APISTD Barta Cheryl Séntos, Deputy Town Clerk  42