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Staunton council delays decision on $50,000 contingency; asks WARM to present day‑center plan
Summary
Councilors on Aug. 14 discussed allocating the council contingency account to nonprofits and a planned day center run by WARM at First Presbyterian; members requested a written proposal and budget from WARM and voted to table broader allocations until the next meeting.
Staunton City Council on Aug. 14 continued a discussion about a $50,000 council contingency account and whether to allocate funds to local nonprofits, approving a motion to table a final decision until the next meeting and requesting a detailed operating proposal from WARM for a planned day center.
City staff and councilors said one use discussed was $30,000 in seed funding to launch a day center proposed for First Presbyterian Church that would offer resource navigation, outreach and daytime services for people experiencing homelessness. Mayor Edwards summarized recent meetings with the church, Mary Baldwin University and WARM leadership and said the day center partners expect to open in September if they secure operating seed money and a lease. “They’ll be renting a single room with bathrooms, and they will have two staff three days a week,” she said, describing the proposed start‑up staffing and services.
Councilors asked for more detail about the day center’s operating budget and sustainability before approving funds from city contingency. Councilor Park and others said they want a memorandum of understanding and a written budget showing how the $30,000 would be used. Several members also noted that the contingency account has historically been held as a reserve for urgent, one‑off needs and they were reluctant to deplete it without a plan to replenish.
Staff said a path exists to appropriate carryover funds in January and reimburse the contingency from carryover once the audit is complete, but councilors agreed they wanted WARM’s executive director to present a written plan and budget at the Aug. 28 meeting. Council voted to table the broader allocation question and asked staff to invite WARM to present specifics at the next meeting; the motion to table carried by roll call.
