Purcellville council appoints Anthony Sabio as interim town manager amid clashes over process

The Purcellville Town Council voted 4–3 to appoint Anthony Sabio as interim town manager, effective Nov. 14, after an often-contentious discussion in which members, staff and residents disputed the process used to add the item to the agenda.

Council member Khalil moved to appoint Sabio at the council meeting and said the town attorney would draft a contract setting the interim manager’s rate of pay to match the incumbent. “I move that the town council appoint Anthony Sabio as the interim town manager for the town of Purcellville, effective November 14,” Khalil said during the meeting.

Opponents said they learned of the appointment only when the late agenda amendment was posted at 5:12 p.m., and argued the council had not given other council members or the public sufficient notice. Council member Wright pressed the majority for details of interviews and qualifications and warned of the fiscal implications: “We're gonna add more money to that is we don't have budgeted to pay for this interim town manager,” Wright said, arguing the hires would worsen an already strained budget.

Supporters framed the move as necessary during a time of transition. The mayor and other backers said the town needs an experienced operations manager to complete outstanding work and to help meet budget targets assigned earlier in the year.

Public comment was sharply critical. Residents packed the microphone to decry what they called last-minute amendments and alleged favoritism. Several commenters connected the appointment to other agenda items debated that night, including a grievance panel matter and a separate appointment that some residents described as politically motivated.

Legal and budget questions surfaced during the discussion. Council members and public speakers asked whether the council needed to adopt a budget amendment before hiring an interim manager and whether a charter provision requiring a manager to live within 15 miles of town would apply to an interim appointment. Town attorney John Cafferkey advised the council that the charter requires a town manager to reside within the corporate limits or 15 miles within 90 days for a permanent appointment, and that whether the residency rule applies to an interim appointment is ambiguous.

The motion carried on a 4–3 roll-call vote after members recorded their positions aloud. The council directed the town attorney to prepare contract terms; supporters said the contract would mirror the incumbent’s pay. Opponents left the meeting warning that the hiring could increase legal and financial exposure if procedural questions are later found to be defective.

The council did not immediately implement any budget amendment to fund the post at the meeting; members discussed that funding would have to be clarified in a future action. The appointment concludes the item on the agenda; follow-up will include the town attorney drafting a contract and the council monitoring whether additional budget action is needed.