Council quickly approves VDOT road maintenance funding resolution before adjourning to work session and closed session

A Special Meeting of the Front Royal Town Council to approve a Resolution requesting that Leach Run Parkway be added to the list of Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) roads eligible for “street maintenance payments” was convened and adjourned within three minutes of its 7 p.m. start Monday evening, April 12. The motion to approve the Resolution by Vice-Mayor Lori Cockrell, seconded by Gary Gillespie, passed by a 5-0 voice vote, with Letasha Thompson absent.

The staff summary noted the signed resolution needed to be submitted by April 26 to qualify for the State street repair payments this year. – “Once this has been submitted and accepted by the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Town will receive this funding each year,” the agenda packet item cover sheet stated. A figure of $68,000 was mentioned, leading once councilman to comment of the ensuing silence, “Should we hold out for more?” leading to some laughter.

Council looks left, or right depending on your perspective, during Monday’s Special Meeting/Work Session following re-convening to open work session following 4-topic closed session. Royal Examiner Photos by Roger Bianchini

That business taken care of and the Special Meeting adjourned, council convened its scheduled 12-item work session which quickly adjourned to closed session to discuss four items, including a “specific” personnel matter and a “specific” legal matter, neither of which were specified, respectively, as to department or general topic of legal consideration. Somewhat more detail was specified in the final two closed session items.

The first of those related to “investment of public funds where competition or bargaining is involved” was specified to “a medical practice located in Town (capitalization in context), under subsection A. 6.”

The second regarding legal advice, “… specifically, the legalities and potential legal liability exposures of the Town regarding its Town-owned (Town Commons) pursuant to Va. Code Section 2.2-3711. A. 8.”

There was no action taken on any of those matters out of closed session, specified or unspecified, as the Special Meeting had been adjourned and action cannot be taken at a work session.

See a report on the subsequent open work session in a related story “Council work session proceeds thru credit card fee debate, Spelunkers rezoning, facilitating property cleanups & water-sewer line repairs”