Waynesboro council adopts budget amendment, authorizes landfill leases and confirms historic commission appointment

The Waynesboro City Council recorded several formal actions at its March 24 meeting: it held a public hearing and adopted an ordinance amending the FY2025 budget, authorized the city manager to execute leases related to the Augusta Regional Landfill, appointed Danielle Granger to an unexpired term on the Historical Commission, and tabled a nomination to the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission’s executive committee until a March 31 work session.

Budget amendment: The council held a public hearing and then adopted an ordinance amending the FY2025 budget by $3,000,954.07 (the transcript records the figure as "3,000,954.07 94"). City staff (identified in the meeting as Mr. McCormick) said the amendment appropriates approximately $2,365,000 to the sewer fund and $759,000 to the stormwater fund to reflect two large grants: a federal grant to reduce inflow and infiltration into the sewer system and a 50/50 state stormwater grant to design and construct a water-quality project near Westwood Elementary School and the Riverview Cemetery outfall. The amendment also included $71,794 for small grants, donations and other recoveries to the general fund and the youth and family services fund. The state code requires a public hearing on amendments above 1% of the locality's budget; staff said this amendment met that threshold. The council called the question after no members of the public spoke and approved the ordinance by voice vote; individual roll-call votes were not specified in the transcript.

Augusta Regional Landfill leases: Council considered authorizing the city manager, as trustee, to execute renewed agricultural leases on property adjacent to the Augusta Regional Landfill that is not used for active landfill operations. Staff said the leases are renewals of historically leased parcels and that partner jurisdictions (Staunton and Augusta County) are considering the same approvals. Council moved, seconded and approved the resolution by voice vote; the transcript records a vote outcome of "Ayes have it." The leases were authorized and the city manager was directed to execute them.

Historical Commission appointment: Council moved, seconded and approved appointing Danielle Granger to an unexpired four-year term on the Historical Commission, through Aug. 31, 2026. The motion carried by voice vote; the transcript indicates an affirmative vote with no opposition.

Planning District Commission nomination tabled: The council discussed whether to nominate one individual to stand for election to the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission's Executive Committee. Staff clarified the city can nominate only one person for consideration. Councilors moved to table the nomination until a March 31 budget work session to allow confirmation of the incumbent's availability; the motion to table carried by voice vote.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting transcript): - Ordinance amending FY2025 budget by $3,000,954.07 — adopted (voice vote; individual votes not recorded in transcript). Notes: appropriations to sewer fund ($2,365,000), stormwater fund ($759,000), and $71,794 to general/youth and family services funds; public hearing held; no public speakers. - Resolution authorizing the city manager to execute Augusta Regional Landfill leases — approved (voice vote; individual votes not recorded in transcript). - Appointment: Danielle Granger to Historical Commission (unexpired term ending Aug. 31, 2026) — approved (voice vote; no opposition recorded). - Nomination to Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission executive committee — tabled to March 31 work session.

All actions recorded in this summary reflect the city meeting transcript; where the transcript did not include individual roll-call votes the item notes that votes were by voice and individual tallies or names were not specified.