Lynchburg council votes to cancel tonight’s regular meeting after procedural dispute

The Lynchburg City Council voted to cancel its regularly scheduled meeting for tonight after a heated procedural dispute over the council’s rules of procedure.

The vote followed debate about Section 2.5 of the council’s rules. One council member raised a point of order, saying, "Rules of procedure 2 dash 5 are clear that if 1 member objects to the cancellation of a meeting, the meeting cannot be canceled." Opposing members and the city attorney argued the rule’s interpretation rests with the mayor and a majority of council and that the body could suspend its rules if it chose to do so.

Councilors traded claims about prior notices and email objections. One member said she had emailed objections on Dec. 5 and Dec. 7 and accused a colleague’s statement that no objection had been filed as "false," offering to provide the emails.

After extended debate over whether rules were being "manipulated" and calls to allow citizens who had signed up to speak to have their chance, the mayor called a roll-call/voice vote. The roll call recorded mixed answers; the mayor announced, "The motion passes." The council did not complete the scheduled public presentation that had been on the regular-meeting agenda this evening; the mayor indicated public speakers previously signed up would have another opportunity on Jan. 14.

The immediate procedural effect was that the council terminated the regular meeting agenda and proceeded to the special agenda items that had been called for the special meeting.

What’s next: the council proceeded to its next scheduled agenda item, the annual audit presentation, and later voted to move into a closed session to consult legal counsel.