Lynchburg city council, schools leaders have heated exchange over budget proposal
LYNCHBURG, Va. โ There was a heated exchange between Lynchburg City Council members and school leaders over the LCS budget. Councilmember Chris Faraldi questioned school board chairman Dr. James Coleman during the March 30 work session over what he called compensation. The more than $100 million operating budget would give board members the opportunity to receive health coverage and a $2,400 stipend. โThe Virginia code gives local school boards the opportunity to do what our local board did,โ said Dr. Coleman as part of his response. The budget also includes LCS asking the city for nearly $40 million, which school leaders say is the same request as last year.
Lynchburg City Council considers renaming busy road after Martin Luther King Jr.
LYNCHBURG, Va. โ The Lynchburg City Council is discussing the possibility of renaming one of its roads after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Council members say theyโve received inquiries for both Fifth Street and Memorial Avenue. In 2005, the roadway received an honorary designation of Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard. Rename only Fifth Street Rename both Fifth Street and Memorial Avenue. โOrdinance requires that we notify every owner of property on the street, then council would have to schedule it for a meeting to consider it,โ said Lynchburg City Planner Tom Martin. City leaders said before decisions are made, they would need to consider the cost of changing addresses for businesses and residents.
Whatโs News Today: I-81 meeting, food collection
VDOT holds a virtual public hearing about Interstate 81 improvements. The public hearing runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Pulaski County School Board will discuss the timeline for returning to five days of instruction per week. AdThe Roanoke City School Board will hold a public hearing about the budget for the next fiscal year. Lynchburg City Council will discuss its five-year Capital Improvement Plan today.
Whatโs News Today: Budget meetings, reversion update
Lynchburg City Council will hold a budget retreat today. The 7:30 p.m. City Council meeting is canceled due to a lack of agenda items. It will also recognize the school board for the completion of the new Colonial Elementary School. The Henry County Board of Supervisors will award the 2020 Jack Dalton Community Service Award today. The Roanoke City School Board will hold a budget workshop today.
Lynchburg City Council questioned whether to limit capacity during latest meeting
LYNCHBURG, Va. โ Lynchburg City Council members will not be limiting capacity during meetings at this time. Vice Mayor Beau Wright made a motion Tuesday night, asking council if they should consider limiting the number of people, hours before the public was allowed into the open meeting. It was voted down 5-2. Wright says he brought up the issue because Bedford officials had just received a notice for violating Governor Ralph Northamโs executive order. Councilman Chris Faraldi, who voted against it, said limiting the number would infringe on the communityโs rights.
Lynchburg has 50 outdoor heaters to give to its restaurants that meet these 4 criteria
Lynchburgโs Economic Development and Tourism department launched a โWinterizationโ campaign. City officials purchased 50 heaters to give to qualifying restaurants to make outdoor dining feasible during the upcoming winter months. Lynchburg City Council has allocated a portion of the grant funding provided to the city through the federal CARES Act to provide heaters, or reimbursement of up to $1,000 for heaters already purchased, to local businesses with outdoor dining areas. โYou can either request up to four heaters for your restaurant or, if youโve already purchased heaters, we will reimburse those costs up to $1,000. For those seeking reimbursement, equipment must have been purchased after March 1 and must be for the purpose of extending outdoor dining season.
Whatโs News Today: Casino employment, road work
Todayโs session begins at 5:30 p.m.Lynchburg City Council will meet in closed session today to discuss a contract with a recruitment company, in its search for a city manager. The U. S. Forest Service holds a virtual public meeting today about Oak and Woodland restoration project. The Roanoke City School Board will hold a special meeting today. Virginiaโs first electric school buses roll out today. Fifty school buses will be delivered to school districts across the Commonwealth this year as part of Dominion Energyโs Electric School Bus program.
Whats News Today: pumpkin spice
ROANOKE, Va. The Virginia Veterans and Military Affairs Conference gets underway today online. It brings together leaders from across the Commonwealth, looking to make Virginia and even better place for veterans to call home. A road closure in Roanoke could impact your commute today and tomorrow. Starting today you can get a pumpkin flavored coffee- and espresso- spiced drinks, as well as bite-sized bakery treats. The U. S. Department of Transportation, along with Mothers Against Drunk Driving will kicks off its Labor Day safety campaign today.
Whats News Today: School renovation update, reopening school plans
The Salem School Board will get an update on construction at Salem High School. The board will also get an update on changes to school bus routes to improve efficiency. The Roanoke City School Board will consider changing its plan for reopening schools. They are proposing all students start online for the first nine weeks, except for students with disabilities and English learners. For the final nine weeks of school, all students would attend five days a week.
Mary Jane Dolan elected mayor of Lynchburg
LYNCHBURG, Va. โ During the first meeting of the newly elected Lynchburg City Council, the governing body had an important task before it, electing a new mayor. Three council members Treney Tweedy, Mary Jane Dolan and Randy Nelson were nominated for the position. Of those three, Dolan, who previously served as vice mayor, was elected mayor. She was reelected to the council in May, winning 52% of the vote in her ward. Beau Wright will serve as the cityโs vice mayor.
Lynchburg swears in new city council members
LYNCHBURG, Va. Lynchburg City Council is ready to start the new fiscal year on Wednesday and with a new person on board. In front of family, friends and city employees council members, Joan Dolan, Sterling Wilder and Jeff Helgeson, who were re-elected in May were sworn in by a Lynchburg judge today. Theres no young conservative voice on council and thats something I want to provide. I think its a void thats there and I think a large portion of the city of Lynchburg has a young conservative voice and thats something we want to offer, Faraldi said. Wednesday council will vote to choose a new or keep a mayor and vice mayor.
Heated city council meeting leads to change in Lynchburgโs curfew
LYNCHBURG, Va. โ A Lynchburg City Council meeting got heated at times on Wednesday as city leaders discussed changing the time of the newly-established curfew. This move comes after city leaders declared a state of emergency amid three nights of protests throughout the Hill City, two of which turned violent. Wednesdayโs special city council meeting came with a lot of fight back. โ(They) wonโt meet the curfew because you as a working person canโt workout in a gym at 5 in the morning," said city council member Jeff Helgeson. Under the new curfew ordinance, the city manager will check in with Zuidema every day at noon on whether or not to extend the curfew.
Lynchburg leaders table idea to give school division additional $2 million for operating budget
LYNCHBURG, Va. โ Lynchburg City Council decided to table whether the school division will receive an additional $2 million to operate next school year. Lynchburg city council tables idea to give school division an additional $2 million to operate next school year. We're going to make it work,โ Loos said. City council will discuss the school budget again in October once they have a better idea of how school operations will like because of the pandemic. City council hopes to have the final budget approved by mid-June.
Lynchburg City Council votes against becoming a Second Amendment sanctuary
LYNCHBURG, Va. โ Lynchburg City Council members voted against making the city a Second Amendment sanctuary after hours of input from local citizens. The vote was 5-2 against Lynchburg joining more than 100 cities and counties in Virginia that have approved Second Amendment sanctuary status to declare their support for gun rights. City leaders moved Tuesday nightโs City Council meeting to E.C. Curt Diemer is the petition organizer who has pushed for Lynchburg to become a sanctuary city. Lynchburgโs representative, Wendell Walker, was also in the crowd Tuesday night, coming from Richmond to make his voice heard and remind Lynchburg citizens of one thing.