[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6488236,"mediaKeyId","5680765-62a1c6640f2f5fb782a3071ae308321a","parentId",5680765,"title","Council votes to enter closed session on airport and property negotiations, a school-board matter and appointments","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",6366000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5680765-62a1c6640f2f5fb782a3071ae308321a&start=6366&end=6366","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5680765-62a1c6640f2f5fb782a3071ae308321a/thumbnail_6366000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6488236/Lynchburg/Campbell-County/Virginia/Council-votes-to-enter-closed-session-on-airport-and-property-negotiations-a-school-board-matter-and-appointments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488236-5c4ae1103539d1144725d1b865b21592/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126488&Signature=b291xnyPIGYtJRX2-cFhOjqZEPzyUU6iL3xaRJM0rbEkwJIFoG~xUWfyrgq4Pk2Z9tLnC6ZqY8Tb1Ma4UR~zBk4M44x~v4vk8X20szYhEjZeaX467QmZzMTdCiSDcAOP0JTguJ86KNk9SV~cTBySuhOZh76QMP-VPGq684gA5JblARGbbDX82Nwvlf1Fad3jkE1hvac~BPnobmWEl2vuBQr1hQuNg~tYqnFgvAyoNHIMZxOmp53BU9r745pjk~8QnsH-yBkF2y1C7iaKYx56gkTmpB376pVI7EyJ41eAE7yP3QzSuQfSWb8p~q5Tp2k1u1hKDB2AGBbbopUbjlkHVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lynchburg","date","2025-08-27T09:54:07Z","article","Lynchburg City Council voted unanimously late in its Aug. 26 work session to enter closed session under Virginia's Freedom of Information Act provisions to discuss several specific matters: negotiation strategy for city-owned real estate at Lynchburg Regional Airport, the potential sale of city-owned property at 1505–1517 Jackson Street, the performance and conduct of a current appointee to the Lynchburg School Board, and appointments to vacancies on the Greater Lynchburg Transit Company board of directors.

The motion cited the statutory authority for closed meeting deliberations: Code of Virginia §2.2-3711, subsections permitting consultation with legal counsel and discussion of bargaining strategy and personnel matters. Council then recessed to the closed session following a roll-call vote in which all members present voted to convene the closed meeting.

No substantive action from the closed session was announced during the public portion of the Aug. 26 meeting; the council proceeded to adjourn the public meeting and reconvened in closed session as permitted by state law.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lynchburg City Council Work Session 8-26-2025","oneSentenceSummary","On Aug. 26 Lynchburg City Council voted unanimously to go into closed session to discuss airport real estate, sale of city property on Jackson Street, performance and conduct of a school-board appointee and appointments to the Greater Lynchburg Transit Company board.","taxTitle","Lynchburg, Campbell County, Virginia","taxId",3745,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6488240,"Staff asks council for Lynchburg-specific priorities for 2026 General Assembly package",324,456000,780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5680765-62a1c6640f2f5fb782a3071ae308321a&start=456&end=780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5680765-62a1c6640f2f5fb782a3071ae308321a/thumbnail_456000.jpg","/articles/6488240/Lynchburg/Campbell-County/Virginia/Staff-asks-council-for-Lynchburg-specific-priorities-for-2026-General-Assembly-package","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488240-dce00cb7162f5f39d98c0f651e1c1b13/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126488&Signature=bCtvGFLHCLgsd7LiSRfUL~AtvtpnvvQ4Mlc410D59XD8~H0ogWs5ZLzE4nCe3eFJmcNI6b6qsbnDk0dv7cN9J5KDGdSie2NyYCyvT2xUOtF9hxaih5RziS~RLR~PN-kVS34e6ZTrOvkGwBQbCNhbYJ6sFjdS~93CHrSmWVWA94hf4WRbX4nl5fYZFdD-WbZd-2C15XpcTcPqF0YIlvAfqCWV4AQSbV~BkluvLlSYvXDOWplHiKoylCkulpgmoAO503KnUOJ49vhJ3hU6n19Jg94HRbz7TFM4wqvbtKU7xk7QrY~lqzG7YtJ058LhbvrP-09ZJSdyIczjPXdeVcnYXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff asked Lynchburg City Council on Aug. 26 to send Lynchburg-specific items for the city’s 2026 General Assembly legislative package. Mercedes Braun, the city’s legislative resource, said past submissions were broad and often championed by outside groups; she recommended a narrower, targeted package the city’s state delegation could carry to the governor’s desk.

\"I really want to tighten that focus,\" Braun said, asking council members to forward ideas by Sept. 5 so staff could solicit departmental expertise and outside partners. She gave one example council will see again in a future briefing: changing the state’s human-services funding formula to reflect caseload rather than population. Braun said the council would receive the items as slides at a Sept. 23 work session and, with council consensus, the package could come back for a general-business vote on Oct. 14.

Braun also reminded council to save Nov. 18 for the annual legislative dinner at the University of Lynchburg and said she would work directly with members to refine proposals.","City staff urged council to submit Lynchburg-specific legislative ideas by Sept. 5 so staff can develop a focused package for council consideration in October and a vote in mid-October; staff cited human-services funding formula as an example.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6488243,"City reports $752,640.78 from national opioid settlements; council to consider participation in additional settlements Sept. 9",167,1324000,1491000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5680765-62a1c6640f2f5fb782a3071ae308321a&start=1324&end=1491","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5680765-62a1c6640f2f5fb782a3071ae308321a/thumbnail_1324000.jpg","/articles/6488243/Lynchburg/Campbell-County/Virginia/City-reports-75264078-from-national-opioid-settlements-council-to-consider-participation-in-additional-settlements-Sept-9","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488243-1b638d37426f8883f9a2d43ceb41e881/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126488&Signature=X4eDnhjx-2-dZpGivMqfWZOoP-CGcOR0vOL8vyw70RyGvWj7UD~7LlgqBVdzX9zTwObrQBMoVOw4X4P8x-g7ZYdb8MFPMV1CBhEEPMErOT~sLYkhiifHvPQvQowlSzR3Ica7fWhjzsy0rxSAQ5LqXQRmaWOWs2NN0tXMQfKhKy82LmM96h27ysTXgEyTRj1Y3EsS-K5DI1htZLY3BTDW~CECaedi0fe5DyDjBrxtGHg7ztn51-haZ0VluXjU4HphAUvBF8WmNZwjZKEg~z-mbl489UNQqIvhyD~DQQD6bVwilEOin~57Hzf6VF-EmLRw10fi3kV20PnTiqfDW3R6sw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lynchburg’s city attorney told city council on Aug. 26 that the city has received $752,640.78 from national opioid litigation settlements and that the city is eligible to participate in two additional settlements, including those involving Purdue Pharma/Sackler-related claims and several manufacturers.

\"As of August 14, 2025, the city's finance department indicated the city has received $752,000, $640.78 from the National Opioid Litigation Settlements,\" the city attorney reported. He said the city also has received two grants connected with the settlements totaling more than $2 million.

The attorney said the city joined a memorandum of understanding to participate in the Virginia opioid abatement authority fund and that the state is seeking broad local participation because wider sign-up increases the funds flowing to the state and local abatement authority. Resolutions to participate in two additional settlements — one involving the Sackler family/Purdue-related claims and another covering a group of manufacturers — are expected to be placed on the Sept. 9 agenda for council action.

Council members asked for brief clarifications about the defendants and the legal bases for settlements; the city attorney described the settlements as addressing a range of defendants, including manufacturers, distributors and owners, and said claims generally involve misrepresentation, gross negligence or other improper marketing and sale practices.

No final decision to accept new settlement funds was made at the Aug. 26 work session; council will be asked to affirm participation in the additional settlements at its Sept. 9 meeting.","City Attorney told council the city has received $752,640.78 from national opioid litigation settlements and that resolutions to participate in two additional settlements will be before council on Sept. 9.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6488246,"Staff says departmental savings will cover $538,118 shortfall in adopted FY2026 budget",305,750000,1055000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5680765-62a1c6640f2f5fb782a3071ae308321a&start=750&end=1055","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5680765-62a1c6640f2f5fb782a3071ae308321a/thumbnail_750000.jpg","/articles/6488246/Lynchburg/Campbell-County/Virginia/Staff-says-departmental-savings-will-cover-538118-shortfall-in-adopted-FY2026-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488246-e4d3039215c443f660220a69a8d76e6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126488&Signature=EkpTOQHY1jMBeJU5~MF8Qxor~W14jj8~cAb-zOFfVbWTUMrXXME-rzVtBvokcGCihb7DOWmGf24YevlxlBsPduYAb2CjC9msnaluBWQ5lnK4CkbfrPvz41wQzv24mEAe6y1Xj9OUtDkw3VlRKrta6it9BNBDReCGSn92K7i0lhIqC~3oApk5Qie~V2xlLyru4MpQNqcKK6TH6mXRMAwS-3f~tqK8xZIUiElTSd4zxZUZjp93lK6MKjIiD6Hf8oFIbM4tHIWcVw-JmDUHct7ttIVp4trclj2byeHO1u3TZoOS-h9e2SxL-XkKbqcbowJUxa0qtXo3T4ZBR~N0u7XOJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City finance staff briefed Lynchburg City Council on Aug. 26 about how the adopted fiscal year 2026 budget will absorb restorations to services the council approved at a prior meeting. Staff said the adopted ordinance reflects a $538,118 reduction in planned budget savings in a non-departmental line item; those reductions were made to restore programs and services the council directed earlier in the budget process.

\"In your final ordinance that came to you, there was a line item for that $538,118 reduction, in non departmental,\" staff said during the briefing. Finance staff explained the city budgets for annual \"managed vacancy\" savings and historically sees unspent funds across departments that can be used for one-time capital maintenance projects or to offset midyear restorations. Staff proposed using those anticipated departmental savings to cover the $538,118 shortfall and to return to council at the end of FY2026 with an itemized report showing where savings were realized.

Council members pressed staff on whether to instead amend revenue estimates now, noting June receipts that were stronger than earlier projections. One council member noted higher-than-projected sales and use tax receipts and suggested increasing revenue projections to reflect the surplus; staff said they received June numbers only recently and preferred to rely on anticipated departmental savings rather than revise ongoing revenue projections until July/August results are finalized. Staff also noted that other revenue categories (meals and hotel taxes) have trended below budget and previously were adjusted downward in the FY2026 forecast.

Staff said some program fees (for parks and recreation facilities such as the Templeton Center and Jackson Heights classes) are recorded in fee budgets rather than the general fund, which is why certain program revenues appear as \"0\" on the general-fund summary. The briefing closed with staff offering to return to council after fiscal year end with a reconciliation of where the anticipated savings occurred.

No formal action was taken at the Aug. 26 work session on the FY2026 budget; councilmembers discussed options including amending revenue projections or relying on department savings to balance the adopted ordinance.","City staff told council at a work session that a $538,118 reduction in planned non-departmental savings will be offset by anticipated year-end departmental savings and possible revenue adjustments; staff recommended returning after fiscal year end with detailed savings breakdown.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6488247,"Council delays vote on proposed rules changes, orders consolidated draft for next work session",4352,1538000,5890000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5680765-62a1c6640f2f5fb782a3071ae308321a&start=1538&end=5890","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5680765-62a1c6640f2f5fb782a3071ae308321a/thumbnail_1538000.jpg","/articles/6488247/Lynchburg/Campbell-County/Virginia/Council-delays-vote-on-proposed-rules-changes-orders-consolidated-draft-for-next-work-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6488247-2f9332f08224158ee3ad89373913e817/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126488&Signature=OBY4tJQplbbgss8KrGMUOBhx5l80uAfEsXywKpI1YCzpTr2-JNb0gbO71N4PfBkz1KYdHgiiFbbZa-a2joeU8nXGnWg8umhwIiyjCoHQFNWz3UCOY3Xw5aAh50cY8eLzMRON58VZLLNE85qD95y67iiA4LhiK4U00S6PEuYIZx10iNXassq76Po1~RJU67ApeCeGAOdZXDtYuwBDT3nunJykkS57EPWreVbk4dQcL0MwUnL68BtRMJf5MpXbNCTosmniKvVSDqXtKsW5Dj7MuSi79Bzzf4QyJ179VWIjjbgWZn7059zZ0H1FlS7NWlfpJfDswCUAD28FrBGjNbljGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lynchburg City Council voted on Aug. 26 to table and consolidate proposed changes to the council’s rules of procedure and to consider a single consolidated document at the next work session on Sept. 23, 2025. The motion passed 6-1; Councilmember Feraldi voted no.

The proposal under discussion originated with Councilmember Timmer, who said the changes are intended to reduce arbitrary enforcement and to protect council members’ ability to speak. \"Fairness is the cornerstone of civility,\" Timmer said, and she urged rules that give a member who is accused of impropriety \"an opportunity to respond before the end of the meeting.\" Timmer also proposed written notice requirements for resignations and a formal, documented process for motions to censure with time to prepare a response.

Opponents and other council members pressed different concerns. Councilmember Feraldi said the package as written would allow unlimited floor time and amounted to a potential filibuster; he told the council he did not consent to tabling without more discussion. Councilmember Reed and others warned that some language in Timmer’s draft could be subjective and difficult to interpret, and asked for clearer wording and a staff/legal review. City Attorney Friedman described the draft as a substantive shift in emphasis from the existing rules, which are oriented toward \"efficiency and timeliness,\" to a focus on broader free-speech protections.

After discussion the council directed staff to consolidate the various proposals (Timmer’s draft, previously circulated staff recommendations and amendments members submitted) into a single document and deliver it to council at least two weeks before the Sept. 23 work session. The motion to table and consolidate passed on a recorded voice roll call: Councilmember Feraldi — No; all other members present — Yes.

Councilmember Timmer said she favored considering each change individually and asked that colleagues offer friendly amendments rather than wholesale substitutes. Several members recommended line-by-line review with the city attorney and a step-by-step vote on consolidated language. The council also agreed to defer remaining discussion to future agenda time so both staff and members have an opportunity to review the unified draft before any general-business vote.

The consolidated draft and the schedule for its consideration were the primary immediate outcomes of the discussion; no substantive rule changes were adopted at the Aug. 26 meeting.","Lynchburg City Council on Aug. 26 voted 6-1 to table and consolidate several proposed amendments to its rules of procedure for review at the next work session; Councilmember Feraldi voted no.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council votes to enter closed session on airport and property negotiations, a school-board matter and appointments

Staff asks council for Lynchburg-specific priorities for 2026 General Assembly package

City reports $752,640.78 from national opioid settlements; council to consider participation in additional settlements Sept. 9

Staff says departmental savings will cover $538,118 shortfall in adopted FY2026 budget

Council delays vote on proposed rules changes, orders consolidated draft for next work session