Marion council appoints Samantha White as assistant town manager, sends succession rules to ordinance committee

Marion — The Marion Town Council on Tuesday moved to appoint Samantha White as an assistant town manager in charge of administration and unanimously referred a separate ordinance to the council's ordinance committee to clarify succession rules and the definition of "absence."

Dr. Gates, who introduced the motion, said White's appointment would "provide stability, strengthen our leadership team, and allow our town manager to delegate responsibilities appropriately while maintaining his focus on the broader strategic direction of our community." The motion was seconded and placed on the floor for discussion.

Council members questioned how the appointment aligns with state code and the town code. Dr. Gates read passages from the Virginia code (sections cited in meeting discussion) and the town's charter provision for the assistant town manager, observing differences in whether an assistant is a "public officer." Town attorney Mr. Finnick said Marion has historically treated assistant managers as positions appointed by council and recommended reviewing local ordinance language during the code update. "Our assistant manager is a public officer that is appointed by this council," Mr. Finnick said during the discussion.

Council also debated how to define "absence" for succession — whether it means not physically in the building, not available electronically, or incapacitated — and which assistant would assume the town manager's duties in different scenarios. Members noted technical changes to FOIA rules effective July 1 that allow discussion of items added after a meeting begins but generally prohibit final action unless the item is time-sensitive.

Because those policy and code details require drafting and legal review, the council voted to refer the question to the ordinance committee to work with the town attorney on language that would specify which assistant serves as acting town manager and to recommend how "absence" should be defined in the updated ordinances. The referral passed unanimously; the transcript records the referral and vote but does not list individual roll-call votes.

Next steps: the ordinance committee will work with Mr. Finnick on draft language for council consideration and public hearings as required by code.