The Code of Virginia allows any public body to withhold certain records from public disclosure. The City of Suffolk commonly withholds records subject to the following exemptions:
Personnel records (§ 2.2-3705.1 (1) of the Code of Virginia)
Records subject to attorney-client privilege (§ 2.2-3705.1 (2)) or attorney work product (§ 2.2-3705.1 (3))
Vendor proprietary information (§ 2.2-3705.1 (6))
Records relating to the negotiation and award of a contract, prior to a contract being awarded (§ 2.2-3705.1 (12))
Out-of-State FOIA requests are not honored (§ 2.2-3704 (A))
Policy Regarding the Use of Exemptions
The general policy of the City of Suffolk is to invoke the personnel records exemption in those instances where it applies in order to protect the privacy of employees and officials of the City of Suffolk.
The general policy of the City of Suffolk is to invoke the contract negotiations exemption whenever it applies in order to protect the City of Suffolk's bargaining position and negotiating strategy.