Hughes Refuses to Participate in Closed Council Session

Alexandria City Councilwoman Alicia Hughes refused to take part in a closed meeting with Mayor Bill Euille and other members of council Tuesday night to discuss pending or possible city litigation and potential acquisition of real estate.

What exactly was discussed in the session is unclear.

Councilman Paul Smedberg announced that the closed session was called under reasons stipulated in the Code of Virginia, adding that it was called specifically to discuss “the acquisition of real property for public open space and likely litigation that may result from the acquisition of real property to support infrastructure, safety and other public purposes.”

Just before councilmembers exited the City Hall chamber for the closed session, Hughes, who lost her bid for re-election last week, said she was removing herself from the discussion.

“We’ve had a lot of conversations and the public has given a lot of information about its sentiments about transparency in government,” Hughes said. “In the last 45 days to my tenure, knowing what this is, I want no association whatsoever with the decision that is going to be made or the conversation that is going to be held in this session.”

Hughes told reporters she did not want to be part of something that did not have a recorded vote. She said Tuesday’s closed session brought BRAC-133 to her mind.

The Army Corps of Engineers decided on the location of the Washington Headquarters Service at BRAC-133 at the Mark Center in 2008. Much of the discussion on the issue between members of the 2008 council was done in executive session. Members of that council have said the BRAC decision was made by the federal government and ultimately out of their hands.

Hughes was not a member of the 2008 council and was critical of its members who were seeking election this past fall.

The closed session lasted more than an hour on Tuesday night. Euille and Vice Mayor Kerry Donley said they could not discuss the matters of the session.

Hughes said Tuesday was the first time in her three-and-a-half-year tenure on council that she has refused to attend an executive session. She said the subject slated for discussion was something she opposed.

Earlier this year, Hughes and Councilman Frank Fannon cast the lone two votes in opposition to the city’s waterfront redevelopment plan, which remains partially hung up in court.

Three women who live near the city’s riverside — April Burke, Beth Gibney and Marie Kux — have sought to invalidate council’s 5-2 adoption of the waterfront small area plan and its accompanying zoning change that would allow development such as hotels.

They say council must adopt a zoning change by a supermajority or 6-1 vote because a required number of property owners who live within 300 feet of the waterfront areas being rezoned signed petitions protesting the change.

The Virginia Supreme Court is expected to hear an appeal of that case.

When asked if he anticipated any decisions about the waterfront redevelopment plan in the weeks ahead, Fannon, who also lost a bid for re-election last week, said Tuesday he didn’t believe any waterfront-related matters would be voted on before the current council term ends at the turn of the year.

“Come Jan. 1, there will be a new city council,” he said. “It’s a chance to vote on the waterfront again. The new city council, from debate discussions, appears to be a 6-1 vote in favor of the plan.”

Councilwoman-elect Allison Silberberg is the only member of the next council who has publically opposed the waterfront plan.