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January 9, 2018
<br />
<br />At a Regular Meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, January 9, 2018, there were
<br />present:
<br />
<br />Mayor John L. Rowe, Jr., William E. Moody, Jr., Elizabeth M. Psimas, Dr. Mark M.
<br />Whitaker, Nathan J. Clark, Lisa Lucas-Burke, City Manager Dr. L. Pettis Patton, City
<br />Attorney Solomon H. Ashby, Jr.
<br />
<br />Pastor Robert Lee opened the meeting with prayer, which was followed by the
<br />Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
<br />
<br /> Mayor Rowe called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance.
<br />
<br /> Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Ms. Lucas-Burke, to approve the minutes
<br />of a Called Meeting of December 4, 2017, of a Called Meeting of December 11, 2017, of
<br />a Called Meeting of December 12, 2017, of a Regular Meeting of December 12, 2017,
<br />and of a Special Called Meeting of January 3, 2018, and was adopted by the following
<br />vote:
<br />
<br />Ayes: Clark, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Psimas, Whitaker, Rowe
<br />Nays: None
<br />
<br />18-12 (a) Ratification of the January 3, 2018 appointment of Ray A. Smith, Sr. as
<br />City Councilman to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Vice Mayor
<br />Paige D. Cherry. (Electronic Roll Call)
<br />
<br />Motion by Ms. Psimas, and seconded by Mr. Moody, to ratify the motion and
<br />majority vote of January 3, 2018 to appoint Ray A. Smith, Sr. to complete the term of
<br />Paige Cherry beginning January 3, 2018 and ending December 31, 2018.
<br />
<br /> Councilman Whitaker noted that the City Charter does not speak to ratifying persons
<br />
<br />to City Council but appointing persons to City Council when there is a vacancy and
<br />asked that this be an appointment to City Council and not a ratification to keep in line
<br />with the language of the City Charter.
<br />
<br /> Motion by Ms. Psimas, and seconded by Mr. Moody, to appoint Ray A. Smith, Sr.
<br />to the Portsmouth City Council for a term beginning today, January 9, 2018 and ending
<br />December 31, 2018. As per the provisions of Portsmouth City Charter, Section 3.04 Mr.
<br />Smith will be filling the vacancy created by the resignation of former Vice Mayor Paige
<br />Cherry to become City Treasurer.
<br />
<br /> Councilman Whitaker asked why there was no public comment on the appointment
<br />
<br />of an elected official.
<br />
<br /> Mayor Rowe indicated that it has been a long standing practice to not allow citizens
<br />
<br />to speak on personnel matters.
<br />
<br /> Motion by Dr. Whitaker, and seconded Ms. Lucas-Burke, to allow citizens to speak
<br />on the appointment of Ray A. Smith Sr., to City Council and by majority of City Council
<br />the public was allowed to speak on the appointment of Ray A. Smith, Sr. to City Council.
<br />
<br />1. Donna Sayegh, 3104 Garland Drive, asked that the process for appointments to City
<br /> Council be a more open process.
<br />
<br />2. Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky, P. O. Box 50141, asked that the process for appointments
<br /> to City Council be a more open process.
<br />
<br /> Motion by Ms. Psimas, and seconded by Mr. Moody, to appoint Ray A. Smith, Sr.
<br />to the Portsmouth City Council for a term beginning today, January 9, 2018 and ending
<br />December 31, 2018. As per the provisions of Portsmouth City Charter, Section 3.04 Mr.
<br />Smith will be filling the vacancy created by the resignation of former Vice Mayor Paige
<br />Cherry to become City Treasurer, and was adopted by the following vote:
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