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Blue Ridge council adopts code-of-ethics update, repeals civility subsection and confirms staff appointments
Summary
Council approved Ordinance BR2026-01 (ethics) and BR2026-04 (repeal of civility subsection), and confirmed multiple staff appointments including city attorney, clerk, treasurer, police chief and municipal judge; Jennifer Bates was later appointed zoning administrator and the council approved hiring consultant Eric Srooka.
The Blue Ridge City Council approved two ordinances on second reading and took several staffing actions during the meeting.
City attorney Chuck Connory explained that Ordinance BR2026-01 (an amendment adding a new chapter on ethics) had been revised since first reading: instead of creating a separate board of ethics, the ordinance now provides that ethics complaints will be processed through the municipal court. The council moved, seconded and approved the ordinance on second reading.
Council then approved Ordinance BR2026-04, which repeals subsection 2-22D of the city code related to civility. Both ordinances passed on voice votes recorded at the meeting.
On personnel matters the council moved to continue or appoint key city positions: city attorney Chuck Connory, city clerk Jennifer Bates, city treasurer Lisa Hy, police chief Robbie Stewart, municipal judge Robert Sneed and city solicitor Joseph Hudson; the motion passed. After an executive session the council appointed Jennifer Bates as zoning administrator, approved hiring Eric Srooka as a consultant to assist the zoning administrator, and authorized the mayor to advertise for a part-time records custodian. The decisions were recorded by voice vote and entered into the meeting minutes.
The council adjourned following these actions.
