# Special Meeting: City Council Closed Session (Virtual) (Jul 20, 2026)

**Body:** City of Asheville — City Council
**Date:** July 20, 2026 1:30 PM EDT (2026-07-20T13:30:00-04:00)

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2973

## Summary

**Meeting Overview**
On July 20, 2026, the Asheville City Council convened for a special closed session via virtual meeting. The session was called to order by Mayor Esther Manheimer, with Vice Mayor Antoinette Mosley stating the legal justification for closing the meeting to the public. The primary purpose of this administrative proceeding was to discuss personnel matters involving a specific public officer or employee.

**Key Decisions and Votes**
The sole action taken during this meeting was the approval to enter a closed session. Vice Mayor Mosley moved that the Council close the session to prevent the disclosure of privileged and confidential information, as permitted under North Carolina General Statutes 143-318.11a1 and 143-318.10e. The motion was seconded by an unidentified speaker and passed via roll call vote. Mayor Manheimer, Vice Mayor Mosley, Councilwoman Smith, and Councilwoman Roney all voted "Aye." No substantive personnel decisions, hiring actions, or disciplinary measures were finalized or announced during this specific session.

**Discussion Highlights**
The discussion was strictly procedural, focusing on the legal basis for the closed session rather than the substantive details of the personnel matter. Vice Mayor Mosley explicitly cited the need to consider the "qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions of initial employment" of an individual public officer or employee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 143-318.1186. Mayor Manheimer confirmed the motion and immediately transitioned the meeting into the closed session following the vote. No further debate or substantive discussion occurred in the open portion of the meeting.

**Community Input and Follow-ups**
As this was a closed session, there were no public comments, community input, or testimony provided by residents. Consequently, there were no responses from Council members to the public. There were no explicit follow-up actions, staff directives, or commitments made by any Council members or staff during the transcript of this meeting. The session concluded immediately after the roll call vote approving the closure.

**Impact on Residents**
This meeting represents an administrative step required by state law to discuss sensitive personnel matters privately. While the specific identity of the individual or the nature of the personnel issue remains confidential due to the closed nature of the session, the vote confirms that the Council is exercising its statutory authority to discuss matters affecting public employment. Residents are advised that no final decisions regarding hiring, firing, or performance evaluations were made public during this specific session, as the substantive discussion occurred behind closed doors.

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/live/bsz_b9mAM7E?si=jra09srulDLjrFIl
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/2038/segments

## Sources

- [City of Asheville WordPress](https://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/meetings/special-meeting-city-council-closed-session-virtual-jul-20-2026/)
- [City Council agenda page](https://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/city-council-agenda/)