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Clifton council will meet with VDOT before seeking permit for taken-down banner; residents urge replacement
Summary
At a July 22 special meeting, the Clifton Town Council voted unanimously to meet with Virginia Department of Transportation staff to determine whether a land-use permit is required to hang banners over Main Street and to delay filing for a permit until that meeting. Residents urged the council to replace a stolen Black Lives Matter banner and repair mounting hardware.
The Clifton Town Council voted unanimously on July 22 to meet with Virginia Department of Transportation staff before submitting any land-use permit application related to a recently removed banner, after an extended discussion and several residents urged the council to replace the stolen banner.
The vote came after multiple residents spoke during the public comment period asking that the banner be restored. Peter Noonan of 12635 Chapel Road thanked the council for recent culvert work and said the town should hang a new banner affirming community values. Graham Milne of Dell Avenue and Rachel Howell of 6700 Newman Road urged the council to replace the sign and to clearly condemn criminal intimidation. Steve Jones, a trustee of the Primitive Baptist Church, told the council the town should compensate for lost display time by keeping the banner up longer; Lynne Garvey-Hodge said descendants of local Black families wanted the town to preserve and recognize that history.
Why it matters: The banner prompted debate over local practice versus state jurisdiction. Vice Mayor Stephen Effros said Clifton had hung banners over Main Street for decades and that VDOT officials had long been aware of that practice; he asked town counsel to confirm the legal position and proposed delaying any permit filing until the council and VDOT staff clarified responsibilities. Councilmember Patrick Pline said the Town Code does not supersede state law; Councilmember Melissa Milne noted that VDOT's permit fee (which she said can be about $100) could be prohibitive for charitable events.
Vice Mayor Stephen Effros formally moved "to establish a meeting between the Town of Clifton and the appropriate staff of VDOT to discuss and determine the status of the banner issue and not file for a land use permit until such time as the facts have been determined," a motion seconded by Councilmember Darrell Poe and approved by roll-call: Hollaway: Aye; Effros: Aye; Milne: Aye; McDonald: Aye; Poe: Aye; Pline: Aye.
After the vote the council discussed next steps. Effros said he would support putting up an identical banner but suggested a revised message, to be displayed for 30 days, reading "Clifton is committed to racial justice." Mayor William Hollaway said he supported a single 30-day replacement but cautioned against repeatedly posting values statements. Councilmember Regan McDonald expressed reluctance to have the town advocate on issues and said he was unaware the banner had been raised before members discussed it.
The council also agreed to address the damaged mounting hardware before reinstalling any banner. Councilmember Patrick Pline agreed to consult with Jim Chesley and coordinate with NOVEC on appropriate materials; the council planned to place the banner-replacement proposal on the next agenda to solicit public feedback.
The meeting, held remotely by Zoom under the town's remote-participation resolution, ended after the council voted to adjourn. Councilmember Darrell Poe moved to adjourn; Vice Mayor Effros seconded and the motion carried by roll-call. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
