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Residents press council over scheduling, alleged suppression and budget legality; mayor cites attorney advice
Summary
Multiple residents used citizen comment to criticize the council majority’s scheduling and decision‑making, invoked a recall petition with over 1,300 signatures, and argued the recent budget vote required a supermajority. The mayor and town attorney responded that the attorney advised a supermajority was not required because no new tax was imposed.
A string of citizen comments at the July 8 council meeting sharply criticized the town council majority for scheduling a strategic planning session with limited participation, restricting general public‑comment time, and for recent policy decisions residents described as ignoring constituent input.
Several commenters referenced a recall petition that they said collected more than 1,300 signatures and questioned the legitimacy of the council’s recent budget vote. Brian Morgan and others said Virginia Code Section 15.2‑1427 requires a supermajority to impose a tax and argued the town’s budget vote should have required five votes, not a simple majority.
Mayor Bertaux and the town attorney responded during mayor and council comments. The mayor said the town attorney advised that the budget did not require a supermajority because no new tax had been imposed: "The town attorney's advice on this matter is that a super majority vote is not required because no new tax was being imposed." The mayor also said remote attendance and scheduling choices allowed for follow‑up sessions and that provisions exist for remote participation.
Council members also acknowledged the public feedback and asked staff to publish relevant documents such as the police study and to consider formal policy on speaking lengths. No formal motions on the recall or the alleged budget irregularity were made during the meeting; speakers said they would pursue additional steps outside the meeting record.
