Personnel Matters
Summary
Personnel matters have been a recurring subject of closed-session meetings by the City Council spanning from at least July 2024 through July 2026. Closed meetings on personnel matters were convened under Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(1), often immediately preceding or during regular and special council meetings. A notable substantive outcome on the public record occurred on January 21, 2025, when a closed personnel session resulted in the appointment of an Acting City Manager. A lengthy City Manager search process followed throughout 2025, concluding by November 18, 2025, when the Council publicly welcomed Dan Alexander as the new City Manager. Closed personnel sessions have continued into 2026 (recorded June 23, July 14, and July 28, 2026), though no public actions out of those sessions are on record. The vast majority of closed sessions produced no recorded public action, consistent with the confidential nature of personnel deliberations under Virginia law.
Open questions & options on the table
- No public actions or outcomes have been recorded for the most recent closed personnel sessions (2026-06-23, 2026-07-14, 2026-07-28); the substance of those discussions remains unknown.
- Minutes and actions reports are unavailable for several scheduled closed sessions (including 2025-08-12, 2025-08-26, 2025-08-29, 2025-09-12, 2025-09-16, 2025-09-22, 2025-10-13, 2025-10-14 special meeting, 2025-10-23, 2025-11-04, 2025-11-08); outcomes for those dates remain unconfirmed.
What members have said
At the November 18, 2025 meeting, Peterson congratulated and welcomed Dan Alexander as the new City Manager, echoed colleagues' remarks, and specifically underscored that the search had been a long and difficult process. Peterson noted that the confidential nature of personnel matters causes public frustration because people cannot see what is happening, and acknowledged this is an accepted constraint of elected office.
At the November 18, 2025 meeting, McQuillan made remarks about the City Manager search process that were referenced and echoed by Peterson, who characterized McQuillan's comments as emphasizing the length and difficulty of the process.
At the November 18, 2025 meeting, Bates made remarks welcoming Dan Alexander that were referenced and echoed by Peterson.
A member of the public spoke at the December 10, 2024 meeting urging the Council not to make significant personnel changes at what was the final meeting for five of six council members, arguing that major personnel decisions impacting the incoming council and city residents should be left to the incoming council.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
Minutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting.
Full history
[2] A closed meeting to discuss personnel matters was scheduled for this special meeting.
[2] The Council convened a closed meeting to discuss personnel matters, resulting in the appointment of an Acting City Manager.
[6] Council entered a closed meeting to discuss personnel matters following reconvening of the special meeting. No public action or outcome is recorded.
[2 (special)] The City Council convened a closed meeting at 6:00 p.m. to discuss personnel matters. No actions out of the closed meeting were reported.
[2] Discussion of personnel matters was scheduled to occur in closed session.
[2] A closed meeting was scheduled to discuss personnel matters.
[Special Meeting - 2] City Council convened in closed session to discuss personnel matters at the 6:00 p.m. special meeting.
[2] A closed meeting to discuss personnel matters was scheduled for this special meeting. No outcome is recorded as no minutes or actions report are yet available.
[3] A closed meeting to discuss personnel matters was scheduled; no outcome recorded yet.
[3] A closed meeting to discuss personnel matters was scheduled for this special session; no outcome is recorded as no minutes or actions report are available.
[5] The Council convened a closed meeting to discuss personnel matters, held in Room 339, City Manager Conference Room.
[2] A closed meeting to discuss personnel matters was scheduled to be convened in Council Chambers. No outcome is recorded as no minutes or actions report exist. [3] Continuation of the closed personnel meeting was scheduled for 12:30 p.m. in Work Session Room 111. No outcome is recorded as no minutes or actions report exist.
[2] A closed meeting was scheduled to discuss personnel matters. No outcome recorded.
[2] A closed meeting was scheduled to discuss personnel matters at this special meeting. No outcome has been recorded yet.
[6] Council held a closed meeting to discuss personnel matters; no further detail recorded in the public actions report.
[3] A closed meeting to discuss personnel matters was scheduled; no outcome or details recorded as no minutes or actions report are yet available.
[3] A closed meeting to discuss personnel matters was scheduled on the agenda for this special meeting.
[2 (special)] Council convened in closed session to discuss personnel matters prior to the regular meeting.
[2] A closed meeting to discuss personnel matters was scheduled for this special meeting. No outcome is recorded as no minutes or actions report exist yet.
[2] A closed meeting to discuss personnel matters was scheduled for this special meeting. No outcome is recorded as no minutes or actions report exist yet.
[2] A closed meeting to discuss personnel matters was scheduled for this special meeting. No outcome is recorded as no minutes or actions report are yet available.
[16] The Council held a closed meeting to discuss personnel matters.
[Pre-3] A closed meeting was held to discuss personnel matters ahead of the July 14, 2026 regular meeting.
[2 (Special)] A closed special meeting was held at 6:00 p.m. on July 28, 2026 to discuss personnel matters.
Discussed alongside
Topics that come up in the same meetings.