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June 16, 2022
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<br />At a Special Meeting of the City Council on Thursday, June 16, 2022, there were
<br />present:
<br />
<br />Mayor Shannon E. Glover, Vice Mayor De’Andre A. Barnes, William E. Moody, Jr., Lisa
<br />L. Lucas-Burke, Dr. Mark M. Whitaker, Paul J. Battle, Christopher L. Woodard, Jr., Interim
<br />City Manager Mimi C. Terry, City Attorney Lavonda Graham-Williams.
<br />
<br />Mayor Glover called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance.
<br />
<br />22 - 183 - Appointment of City Manager
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<br /> Motion by Dr. Whitaker, and seconded by Mr. Barnes to add an item to the agenda
<br />pertaining to the deferment start date of the City Manager, and was adopted by the
<br />following vote:
<br />
<br />Ayes: Barnes, Battle, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Whitaker, Woodard, Glover
<br />Nays: None
<br />
<br /> Motion by Dr. Whitaker, and seconded by Ms. Lucas-Burke, to defer the start date
<br />for Tonya Chapman as City Manager until June 28, 2022, pending a criminal background
<br />check in accordance with the Charter and review by City Council, and was adopted by
<br />the following vote:
<br />
<br />Ayes: Barnes, Battle, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Whitaker, Woodard, Glover
<br />Nays: None
<br />
<br /> Councilman Whitaker asked that the following statement be put in the minutes:
<br />
<br />
<br />REGARDING THE TERMINATION OF CITY MANAGER ANGEL JONES
<br />
<br />June 16, 2022 – During the Special Call Meeting of the Portsmouth City Council from my
<br />seat at the Council Dais as recognized to speak by the Mayor of the City of Portsmouth
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<br />To The Residents of Portsmouth and Other Persons of Interest,
<br />
<br />For the past 2 weeks, I have silently observed the conduct and listened to statements,
<br />which had no basis in truth, made by Council members and citizens, regarding the
<br />termination of the employment of former City Manager Angel Jones. My father, Bishop
<br />James Whitaker, the Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church for the past 58 years, told me
<br />as a young boy that life is a search for the truth. Therefore, out of respect for the concerns
<br />of many regarding the termination of Angel Jones as City Manager, I would like to share
<br />with you my rationale for voting to terminate Angel Jones as the City Manager of
<br />Portsmouth. It is my sincere hope that by sharing my thoughts you will have a basis in
<br />Truth for how I reached my decision.
<br />
<br />On March 18, 2021, I was part of the majority of the Portsmouth City Council that voted
<br />4-3 to appoint Angel Jones as the next Portsmouth City Manager. I made this vote without
<br />the advice nor consent of the residents of Portsmouth. With this vote, Ms. Jones became
<br />the second African American female in the history of Portsmouth to serve in this capacity;
<br />both for whom I voted.
<br />
<br />According to Section 5.01 of the Portsmouth City Charter, the City Council shall appoint
<br />the City manager and the City Manager shall serve at the pleasure of Council. Thus, the
<br />City Manager should always be cognizant of following the will of Council. However,
<br />several incidents caused me great concern as to whether Ms. Jones had compromised
<br />on representing the entire Council or the desires of a member of Council.
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<br />COUNCIL REPRESENTATION
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<br />1. The first issue occurred in August of 2021. A former Deputy City Manager, LaVoris
<br />Pace who was trusted and well respected by the community for his humanity and
<br />integrity, accepted a position with the City of Norfolk. I was concerned that a person
<br />with such respect and institutional knowledge was leaving Portsmouth. Furthermore,
<br />I was contacted by elected officials and members of the community who were upset
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