Public Meetings - Leesburg, Virginia

The meeting scheduled for October 20, 2026 at 19:15 was convened only for an audio/visual test. No agenda, minutes, or substantive discussion are available. The raw transcription consists solely of a sound check and a brief unrelated excerpt about Puccini's opera Turandot. No official business, public comments, decisions, or votes occurred. The session appears to have been a technical pre-meeting test rather than a formal council meeting.

Note on Date Discrepancy: The meeting transcription begins with the chair calling the meeting to order on October 15, 2026, but the instructions for this summary specify the meeting date as October 20, 2026. The summary below uses the specified date but notes this conflict. The meeting covered two work session items: a recap of zoning ordinance amendments responding to 2026 Virginia General Assembly legislation, and an update on upcoming retail cannabis regulations. Economic development data and a public comment on data center impacts were also presented. A public hearing originally scheduled for this meeting was postponed to November 5, 2026 due to noticing protocol changes. Public Comments & Testimony - Rachel Hart (115 Nottaway Street SE, Leesburg resident since 2004) urged the commission to include all optional state reporting requirements for data centers (high‑energy use facilities) under Senate Bill 94. She cited concerns about potable water consumption (a medium‑sized data center can use 110 million gallons/year, equivalent to 1,000 households) and groundwater impacts, and asked that applications specify water use and options like closed‑loop cooling. She also requested consideration of ground integrity risks near data centers. Discussion Items - Zoning Ordinance Rewrite – State Legislative Amendments: Director David presented a streamlined recap of amendments drafted in response to several 2026 bills (SB 531 on ADUs, HB 888 on parking, HB 1279 on attainable housing, SB 94 on data centers, HB 711 and others on solar, etc.). Key topics: - ADU standards were made no more restrictive than for principal dwellings (height, floor area). - Affordable housing on qualified tax‑exempt properties (HB 1279) was added by right, with new covenant language mirroring Loudoun County. - Parking reduction of at least 20% for multifamily/mixed‑use can be awarded administratively if projects meet sustainability or ADU criteria. - Solar facility standards were inserted from state code, including view‑shed analysis for large solar photovoltaic projects. - Data centers: all optional state criteria (surface water/groundwater, sound profile, etc.) were included. - Commissioner Robinson raised concerns about street parking capacity, view‑shed “squishiness” for solar, and energy efficiency in affordable units. Commissioner Barnes strongly criticized traffic congestion and argued against any new building. Commissioner Steinberg noted the importance of policy distinctions. Staff agreed to provide a thumbnail sketch of potential ADU housing added and to examine gateway district guidelines for solar. - Retail Cannabis Legislation Update: Deputy Town Attorney Newton outlined the state’s timeline: Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (VCCA) will start accepting license applications February 1, 2027. The town must adopt zoning regulations before that date to have objective criteria for objections. Key land‑use implications include defining cannabis uses, setting location standards, and avoiding de‑facto prohibition. The state caps retail licenses at 350 statewide; distribution unknown. Commissioner Barnes expressed opposition to any cannabis sales in town, noting a nearby hemp shop. Commissioner Steinberg reported on VML discussions and the likelihood of applications in Northern Virginia. The commission agreed to have a work session on November 5 to discuss permissible zoning districts and then receive draft text on November 19. - Economic Development Presentation: Mr. Seymour presented annual data on business licenses, vacancy rates, and tax revenues. Highlights: 731 retail businesses (largest category); 2,800–2,900 active businesses overall; retail vacancy 1.8%, office under 5%, industrial 0%, flex space <1%. Commercial lease rates are among the highest in Virginia (retail $34/sq ft). Hotel occupancy is approaching 70%. Non‑resident visits exceed 27 million/year. Major employer growth from Compass Creek (Microsoft) contributed to a jump in business personal property tax. Mr. Seymour emphasized Leesburg’s appeal to tech and government contractors but noted space constraints force growing firms to leave. Key Outcomes - Agenda Adoption: Approved as amended (moved approval of October 1, 2026 minutes to November 5 meeting). - Public Hearing Postponed: The public hearing on zoning ordinance amendments was moved to November 5, 2026 to ensure proper noticing per the Oak Valley case precedent (draft text must be available same day as advertisement). - Future Meetings: - November 5: Public hearing on state legislative zoning amendments; also work session on cannabis zoning districts. - November 19: Continued cannabis work session (draft text) and Islamic Center discussion. - Staff Actions: Director David will produce a thumbnail sketch of potential ADU housing additions and examine gateway overlay guidelines for solar installations; Deputy Director Farron will prepare a cannabis zoning outline. - Straw Poll / Direction: The commission signaled support for including optional state data center criteria as presented, and for proceeding with the cannabis regulatory timeline.

No agenda, minutes, or transcript were provided for this meeting. Therefore, no summary can be generated.

The Leesburg Airport Commission convened on October 16, 2026, in a regular session. Commissioners present included Timothy, Don, Tom Ryan, and Walter, establishing a quorum. The meeting focused on the proposed personal property tax on aircraft, the fiscal year 2028 operating budget and potential fee increases, redevelopment of the Condo Hangar parcel, and operational updates. Consent Calendar - The agenda was adopted by a motion and a second, with all in favor. - Meeting minutes from August 2026 were approved. Public Comments & Testimony - A representative from the FBO praised the recent air show, noting it was exceptionally smooth and well-attended (12,000 people). He recommended reaching out to a potential corporate sponsor, citing a history of $25,000–$50,000 in annual sponsorship commitments in similar markets. - The commission discussed a resident’s request for broader dissemination of noise complaint data. Commissioner Tom Saxon volunteered to serve as the point of contact for a resident from Evergreen Meadows with specific noise concerns. Discussion Items Personal Property Tax Briefing - The commission reviewed a briefing prepared by Mike May and Scott Kuhn regarding a request from the Town Council to weigh in on a potential increase to the personal property tax on aircraft. - Commission Position: Members argued strongly against the proposed tax, citing the airport is already a net positive cash flow generator, and tenants already pay significant fees (annual user fees of $98 to $1,800, Loudoun County property tax on hangars, and fuel flow fees). - Economic Risk: Commissioners identified the primary risk as driving away large corporate jet operators, who they stated contribute disproportionately to the airport's fuel revenue and local economic activity. They cited Winchester’s experience of raising and then lowering similar taxes after negative impacts on operations. - Decision: The commission directed staff to refine the presentation to emphasize the existing financial burden on tenants and the economic risk of losing corporate aviation. This data will be presented to the Town Council in November. Fiscal Year 2028 Budget & Fee Adjustments - Airport Director Scott presented the FY28 budget, highlighting an estimated $80,000–$100,000 increase driven by personnel and operating costs. - A significant debate occurred on whether to raise user fees. - Staff Proposal: Scott proposed raising tie-down rates ($120/month, unchanged since 2013) and T-hangar rates ($500–$700/month, unchanged for 3 years) to offset rising costs and prepare for capital projects. - Commissioner Positions: Commissioner Tom argued that 100% occupancy indicates rates are too low, supporting a small, equitable increase. Commissioner Ryan agreed an increase is justified but requested detailed data before a formal vote. Commissioner Walter cautioned that Leesburg is already the most expensive airport in the region, stating “Part of the game is keeping it low for everyone… people will vote with their feet.” - FBO Feedback: A representative suggested that modest, CPI-aligned annual increases are the bare minimum for maintaining the airport’s infrastructure and financial health. - Decision: The commission will analyze inflation-adjusted fee structures and bring a specific proposal back for a vote, with any changes likely effective in July 2027. Condo Hangar Parcel & South End Development - The commission explored maximizing the airfield footprint after the mandatory demolition of old octagon hangars for the taxiway relocation. - Visual Presentation: Staff presented a conceptual layout of 49 new T-hangars on the parcel, which an engineer must validate against FAA standards. - Discussion: Members debated building vs. private development. Building generates debt but retains long-term revenue. The group favored T-hangars on this parcel for general aviation piston aircraft, reserving the West Side for larger box hangars and FBO development. - Outcome: Staff will continue engineering and financial assessments for the parcel and the South End, which is awaiting state grant funding. Control Tower Progress - The control tower project design is 100% complete. Funding has reached $6.25 million of the $18 million target. An application for additional FAA discretionary funds is being submitted. - Beacon Placement: The commission discussed the rotating beacon. While the sighting study does not currently support moving it from the old tower, the new tower base will be prepared for potential future installation. Operations, Noise, and Community Outreach - YTD operations are up 5.8% over the previous year. Jet fuel sales have increased significantly. - Noise Complaints: The commission discussed sharing data more transparently. Staff proposed a quarterly report correlating complaint numbers with total operations to provide context. The commission was cautiously receptive, noting public meetings already offer a platform for these discussions. - Night Operations: The voluntary curfew on pattern work (10 PM to 7 AM) was reinforced. The AWAS recording now explicitly discourages “no pattern work” during these hours. Mural Project Update - The public art mural project has funding to cover approximately $2,000 of a $15,000 gap. The commission will formally request the remaining funds from the Town Council. A commissioner questioned the material costs, and one expressed a desire to remove the item from future agenda items. Key Outcomes - Personal Property Tax: Staff will provide a refined, data-driven briefing to the Town Council emphasizing the existing economic contributions and fee structures at the airport, positioning against the proposed tax increase. - User Fee Increase: The commission reached a clear consensus for a nominal, inflation-based increase to tie-down and hangar fees. Staff will present specific rates ($20–$40 range for tie-downs suggested by members) for a formal vote at the next meeting. - Next Meeting: The next regular meeting was officially rescheduled from November 11 to Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at 6:00 PM, due to the Veterans Day holiday.

The Leesburg Diversity Commission met on October 15, 2026, at 7:06 PM. (Note: The meeting transcript records the date as October 14, 2026, but the meeting is officially dated October 15, 2026.) The meeting covered routine approvals, detailed planning for the Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) ceremony, review of a proposed commission logo, initial discussion on a small business award, budget considerations, proclamation requests, and scheduling of future meetings. The meeting adjourned at 8:27 PM. Commissioner Comments - Commissioners discussed the possibility of using AI to generate meeting minutes, but staff noted that a human recorder is still required. - A group photo of the commission was discussed and will be organized for the December meeting. - The library director, Laura Christianson, will attend the November meeting to discuss microgrant research opportunities. Police Department Update - The police liaison reported no new updates from the police department. Domestic Violence Awareness Month Ceremony - The ceremony is scheduled for the upcoming Friday (October 16, 2026) on the Town Green (inside Town Hall if rain). It will include resource tables, a musician, several survivor speakers, and an electronic candlelight vigil. Commissioner Rebecca identified herself as a survivor and agreed to speak first. - The commission voted to purchase a case of mini water bottles for the event (motion by Ed, seconded by Vanessa, all in favor). Other supplies, such as purple tablecloths and bubbles, will be made available. Commission Logo - The commission reviewed initial logo drafts from the designer, Joe. Commissioners expressed a preference for a circular design with diverse colors, human-centered imagery (silhouettes of people holding hands), and the inclusion of a silhouette of the Leesburg Town Hall. The text should read "Town of Leesburg" on the top and "Diversity Commission" on the bottom. The current black-and-white designs were considered unrepresentative of diversity. The commission will provide specific feedback for revisions. Small Business Award - The commission discussed establishing a Diversity Commission Sponsored Small Business Award to be presented during Small Business Week in May. Guidelines will focus on businesses that promote diversity, equity, and accessibility. A commissioner volunteered to draft guidelines for the next meeting. Budget and Future Planning - The commission has approximately $3,500 remaining in its budget. Future uses discussed include a potential donation to a Leesburg-based food assistance organization (e.g., Loudoun Hunger Relief) and support for historical plaques in partnership with the library. The budget request for FY2028 is due next month. Proclamations - The commission approved motions to submit a proclamation for Native American Heritage Month (November 2026) and for Universal Human Rights Month (December 2026), both contingent on finding individuals or organizations to accept them. Meeting Schedule - The commission voted to hold the December 9, 2026, and January 13, 2027, meetings virtually. Both motions were seconded and passed. The November 4 meeting will be in person. Staff Updates - Staff informed four commissioners (Lisa, Ed, Vanessa, Melissa) whose terms end this year that they may reapply for reappointment. Applications should be submitted online, and the full council will vote on appointments in January. Key Outcomes - The agenda and minutes from the previous meeting were approved. - Sri was allowed to participate electronically. - A case of mini water bottles was approved for the DVAM ceremony. - The commission provided feedback on the logo; the designer will be asked for revisions. - Guidelines for the Diversity Commission Sponsored Small Business Award will be drafted for the next meeting. - Proclamations for Native American Heritage Month and Universal Human Rights Month were approved, contingent on identifying acceptors. - The December and January meetings will be held virtually. - The next meeting will be on November 4, 2026, in person.

The town board/commission that oversees the Thomas Balch Library met on Thursday, October 15, 2026 (2026-10-15), at noon; meetings are recorded per town practice for standing boards and commissions. Members approved the previous meeting's minutes, heard the Library Director's September 2026 report, received Friends of the Library and Foundation updates, discussed St. James Cemetery and 250th anniversary programming, considered a 25th-anniversary commemoration for the library's mural, and selected the 2026 history award recipients. No agenda or minutes were available for cross-checking, and the raw transcript contains many garbled names and passages; spellings below reflect the best available reading. Consent Calendar - The previous meeting's minutes were approved on a voice vote — motion, second, all in favor, no negatives or abstentions; member Scott was absent. Library Director's Report — September 2026 - Director Laura reported a very busy September. Exhibits changed out across the library: floral photography by Heatherland Overhew in the meeting room, a Lincoln Preservation Society exhibit upstairs, and a traveling University of Mary Washington exhibit on Oak Hill and Newton Rose, featuring material from the library's collection and continuing through December; the stairwell exhibit remains on view. - Programs included a September 3 talk on James Remorough and a "Revolutionary War on Screen" discussion of The Patriot, at which Ian McDougal gave an overview of South Carolina's role in the war and attendees debated the film's historical inaccuracies. On September 24, Jamie Price delivered a well-researched talk on the Battle of New Market Heights; filmmaker Roland Waddell captured it, and the library plans to post it to YouTube. - The genealogy club, founded about a year ago, held a volunteer indexing event; roughly a dozen people transcribed names from insurance slips and tribal records. Recent speakers included Shannon Christmas ("the magic of DNA") and Anna Carnell Davis (using library resources). - Outreach included hosting George Mason University's Mason Legacies ledger class, participating in the 2026 George Mason University Archives Fair (about 15 visitors, aided by intern Sahar Sadiq), presenting at James Madison University's archives fair, and hosting Loudoun County High School's French class. The library added the "letters from Edgar's trunk" collection — World War I soldier Edgar Watson's materials, including a soldier's guide to French he carried. - Acquisitions included a baseball card for Toby Atwell, described as the first baseball player from Loudoun County; the practice field behind the cemetery and senior center is now Toby Atwell Field, with a rock and plaque. The sports-themed pop-up exhibit at the Donaldson Cabin drew interest in Loudoun County High School football programs; Joanne Pearson's husband, a former coach, brought game film to a reunion, and an old gym floor was cut into framed keepsakes. - Staff and collections: Tammy Tran and summer interns processed new collections. The library honored Mary Pender, the town's longest-serving employee, for 25 years at the town's employee service awards; Laura noted her own 15-year milestone. Tammy Tran and Laura published an article in the Mid-Atlantic Archivist about the library's work at the cabin, based on a presentation at the spring MARAC convention. - Building note: plaster upstairs at the cabin had fallen again; facilities staff stabilized it, and the director of public works brought in a contractor. If no obvious cause is found, a structural engineer will assess the walls and possible building movement. The board is awaiting answers. - Archives Month: Tammy Tran is hosting a program on restricted archives on October 27 at 6:00 p.m., with regional archivists discussing why some records are restricted, censored, or excised — including a lighthearted mention of an archivist exposed to state secrets — and how the library handles collections that may not be publicly shareable. Friends of the Library and Foundation - The Friends of the Thomas Balch Library will hold their annual event on Thursday, October 22, at the Berkeley (Berkbee) House from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $75, and registration is still open through the Friends' website. This year's event will feature items from the library's collection, including a "then and now" photo display and a sampler created at the house. - The Library Foundation will meet next Tuesday. The Foundation is funding the 250th anniversary journal, which is at the printer and should appear by late October or November — in time for the awards ceremony if all goes well. St. James Cemetery Update - Jim reported no new developments since the August/September meetings. Ground-penetrating radar work is complete, more burials were found than expected (restricting landscaping), and the library mounted a well-regarded exhibit on the project. The town will likely spend money on the site. The cemetery will become a green space that, like Leesburg's other historic cemeteries, contributes to understanding town history. Preservation legislation passed and brought additional funding; the remaining question is how much the town will invest. 250th Anniversary Events and Programming - The 250th commemoration continues for the entire length of the war. Director Laura said the library's events will continue but become more spread out; the 250 committee will meet later this month to decide whether to organize events around themes. - A spring transcribe-a-thon will engage the public in transcribing historical documents, with the Friends offering training in reading old handwriting. The example will be the town council minutes, the first 75 years of which are handwritten, digitized yet not keyword searchable — a point of personal interest to Laura. A November planning meeting will bring in partner organizations so museums and other sites can transcribe their own collections. - The next "Revolutionary War on Screen" program, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, will be held Tuesday at 6:00 p.m., with portions shown; the library will award the person who attended every program in the series. - A panel with the 250th journal's authors is being planned; December 12 is a possible date. Mural 25th Anniversary Discussion - Jim recounted the history of Bill Woodward's mural in the meeting room, now 25 years old and funded by the Friends. Woodward, now deceased, was the artist; Jim wrote the narrative and participated in the selection from about 28 submissions. Woodward painted in his Brittany studio, and the only recognizable character in the mural is Senator Edward Baker, killed at Ball's Bluff. Jim told how the painting was shipped from Dulles Airport on September 10, 2001; after the September 11 flight shutdowns, the container arrived broken but the painting survived, and seeing the American flag artwork in mid-September 2001 was deeply moving. Woodward's other library works include a reproduction of the first meeting of English representatives with American Indians (from a painting in a house that burned in the 1930s) and a tribute to Loudoun County's African-American community. - Members discussed marking the anniversary with an event — possibly a talk by Jim and others, a viewing of the original cartoons, and the booklet produced for the mural — and inviting the Friends to participate. The anniversary also coincides with the addition of the building and its transfer to the town. 2026 History Awards - The main business was selecting the 2026 history award recipients; eight applications were received this year, more than in previous years. - Members affirmed guidelines: awards cannot go to people paid for the work, and sustained contributions count more than a single effort. Nominations for Norm Styler (paid for 250th articles) and Julia Shipley (paid for research on John Jones) were set aside. Tracy Gillespie, already an award recipient, was to be acknowledged rather than re-awarded, as the 250 committee requested. - Strong support was expressed for Alicia Cohen and Gertrude Evans for the Black Patriots and Loyalists symposium and their years of exhibits, school talks, teacher professional-development sessions, and July 4th 250th events at the courthouse, with letters of support from multiple organizations; library staff had also attempted a national AASLH award on their behalf. - Paul Cringold was supported for his marble quarry research and the "Marble Quarry and the Architecture of the Early Republic" project, described as unique and intensely researched, and for his talks and support of library events. - Candidates held for next year included a longtime Ball's Bluff volunteer, the Asbury Methodist First Church 250th team project (nominated by Phyllis Cook Taylor, with notification requested to the town of Middleburg), and Larry, editor of the Loudoun County Bulletin of History. The library had considered taking over the Bulletin but was advised not to because of complications with the town assuming a nonprofit publication and with no funding attached; Larry plans another edition in April. - Members discussed past practice — as many as three awards in a year, and four per year in the award's first decade — and agreed that limiting the number preserves the award's importance, which recipients treat seriously. Key Outcomes - The board approved a motion, seconded, to award the 2026 history awards to the joint project of Alicia Cohen and Gertrude Evans and to Paul Cringold for the Marble Quarry / Architecture of the Early Republic project. - The longtime Ball's Bluff volunteer, the Asbury Methodist First Church project, and Larry (Bulletin of History) were identified as holdover candidates for next year. - The awards ceremony will take place Sunday, November 1 — the day after Halloween — at 2:00 p.m., with a group photo at 1:30 p.m. Staff prepared a slide honoring community members who died; Jim noted he had spoken at the memorial for Thomas, who died at age 102, and told how 78-rpm recordings of her father — a Virginia political figure — were converted so that descendants could hear his voice. Note: No agenda, minutes, or official list of speakers were available; the raw transcript is a single speech-to-text rendering, so some names, dates, and passages are uncertain.

This summary is based solely on the revised agenda for the Leesburg Planning Commission meeting held on October 15, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. No minutes or transcript were available, so deliberation, testimony, and decisions cannot be reported. Work Session - TLZNOA2026-0002 Zoning Ordinance Rewrite – Additional revisions based on 2026 VA General Assembly legislation for accessory dwellings, parking requirements, high-energy use facilities, solar facilities, and affordable housing. - 2026 VA General Assembly – Retail Cannabis Legislation. Public Hearing - TLZNOA2026-0002 Zoning Ordinance Rewrite – Same legislative revisions regarding accessory dwellings, parking requirements, high-energy use facilities, solar facilities, and affordable housing. Staff and Committee Reports - Business License Tracking – Russell Seymour, Director of Economic Development. - BAR Report. - Town Council Liaison Report. Other Agenda Items - Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call and Existence of Quorum, Adoption of Agenda, Approval of Minutes (October 1, 2026), Disclosure of Meetings, Chairman’s Statement, Remarks by Petitioners, Subdivision and Land Development, Zoning, Comprehensive Planning, Old Business, New Business, Adjournment. Public Comments & Testimony - No transcript or minutes were provided; therefore, no public testimony or petitioner remarks can be summarized. Key Outcomes - No decisions or votes can be identified from the agenda alone. The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for November 5, 2026.

The Technology and Communications Commission held its regular meeting on October 13, 2026, at 12:15 PM. The meeting covered approval of past minutes, updates on public outreach, IT operations, a new public works message board, and the 2026 annual report. Commissioner Aaron Nadler participated remotely after technical difficulties. Consent Calendar - August 4, 2026 Minutes: Motion to approve by Commissioner, seconded, all in favor (one out-of-order vote noted), motion carried. - September 1, 2026 Minutes: Motion to approve, seconded, all in favor, motion carried. Discussion Items - Public Outreach Update: Commissioner John described a three-track vision for future outreach: (1) child/adolescent safe classes, (2) adult education including internet safety and AI primers, and (3) school interaction (e.g., data thons, capture-the-flag events). He invited commissioner input on involvement. Commissioner expressed support but highlighted the need to distribute workload. Discussion included using the town's PIO for social media promotion rather than creating a separate commission account. Multiple commissioners offered to assist with content creation and event support. - Information Technology Operations Update: IT Director reported: - SD-WAN project: finalizing timing schedule, cutover notification to departments within a month. - Microsoft Teams working group: launching this week to develop policies, guidelines, and cleanup of unused teams. - Backup strategy: shifting to on-premise backups for faster recovery, with cloud for long-term archiving; emphasized government cannot be cloud-only. - Supporting Public Utilities' SCADA project (task order 3), with hardware cost increases and longer lead times. - New internal communications: monthly "AI Signal" newsletter to AI working group and "IT Brief" to all staff. - Public Works Message Board Overview: IT Director reported using the existing MVX CMS technology (already used for cable channel slideshows) to display key information on a TV screen at Public Works. Template created in PowerPoint for easy updates; future plans include emergency management and HR messaging. - 2026 Technology and Communications Annual Report Update: Report is scheduled for the December 8, 2026 Town Council meeting. Presentation materials due December 3 by 4:00 PM, staff memo due November 24. Commission will review in November virtual meeting. Commissioner asked for emphasis on cybersecurity and requested updated statistics. Key Outcomes - Approved August and September 2026 meeting minutes. - Public outreach planning to continue, with commissioners expected to take on specific roles. - IT updates noted; no formal votes taken. - Annual report to be prepared by Chair John, with review at next month's virtual meeting. - New commissioner appointment: forwarded to full Town Council for consent agenda at end of October; commission to be notified of outcome.

The Town of Leesburg Technology and Communications Commission met on October 13, 2026. The chair called the meeting to order, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and the commission held voice votes on meeting minutes and remote participation. It received reports on public outreach, IT operations, a new Public Works message board, and the 2026 annual report timeline, then adjourned at 7:46 p.m. Consent Calendar - August 4, 2026 minutes: A motion to approve was made, seconded, and carried by voice vote. The chair noted that July minutes had mistakenly been provided in the previous packet. - September 1, 2026 minutes: A motion to approve was made, seconded, and carried by voice vote, with one out-of-order vote ignored. - Remote participation: The commission approved Commissioner Nadler's remote participation under the town's remote electronic participation policy due to personal reasons; he joined from Leesburg, Virginia. Public Outreach Update - The commissioner leading outreach said personal delays had slowed scheduling, but a kids' class is targeted for November. - He proposed a three-track outreach vision: child/adolescent education (safety classes and capture-the-flag games), adult education (internet safety and artificial intelligence primers), and school/hands-on events such as a datathon or workshops. He also mentioned possible future coordination with the EDC and internship postings. - Another commissioner voiced strong support and cited the Fishing 101 outreach as evidence of public appetite, but stressed that roles and workload must be divided so the work does not fall on one commissioner. - A commissioner asked about a commission-owned social media account. The discussion concluded with advice to check with the town's Public Information Office (PIO), to have a clear mission and content plan first, and to keep working through the PIO rather than creating a separate account. - Another commissioner offered to support content creation, events, and technical tasks, while also asking for PIO coordination. IT Operations Update - SD-WAN: The IT team will finalize the cutover schedule this week and notify departments at least a month in advance; the project includes vendor whitelisting changes and bringing firewalls back in-house. - Microsoft Teams: A working group starts this week to clean up unused teams, develop governance, and create policy and SOPs for team/channel creation through the help desk. - Backups: The town is moving to a hybrid on-premises/cloud backup model. The IT director said government should not be cloud-only because on-premises backups enable faster recovery when a cloud connection is lost or cloud restores would take hours or days. - Utilities SCADA support: IT continues assisting the public utilities SCADA project, now approaching task order three; hardware costs are rising because of RAM market conditions, and longer lead times are driving early procurement. - New communications vehicles: A monthly AI Signal for the AI working group and a monthly IT Brief for all town staff have launched; both are accessible on the intranet. Public Works Message Board Overview - The project originated after Public Works and Capital Projects were split into separate departments and field staff were missing information that was posted only in common areas. - IT reused the existing MVX mini-PC/content management system and a large break-room TV at Public Works to create a PowerPoint-based message board that an administrative staff member can update. - Future plans include standardizing the template and expanding the boards so emergency management, HR, and the PIO can push messages to them. 2026 Annual Report Update - The annual report is scheduled for the December 8, 2026 Town Council agenda; presentations are due by December 3, 2026 at 4:00 p.m., and the staff memo is due November 24, 2026. - The commission plans to review the draft in November, and next month's meeting will be virtual. - The chair invited commissioners to submit emphasis areas; one commissioner emphasized cybersecurity. Commissioner Comments and Adjournment - Commissioners wished everyone a safe and healthy October/Halloween and praised the town PIO for outreach content. - On the new commissioner appointment, the chair reported it is now before the whole Town Council, and no nominations have been seen; it is expected on the council's consent agenda in late October. - The IT director had no formal comments beyond a Halloween greeting and a humorous request for full-size Reese's peanut butter pumpkins. - A motion to adjourn at 7:46 p.m. was made, seconded, and carried by voice vote. Key Outcomes - Approved the August 4 and September 1, 2026 meeting minutes. - Authorized Commissioner Nadler's remote participation. - Set a November target for the next kids' outreach class and agreed to further define commissioner roles. - Received status updates on SD-WAN, Teams governance, backups, SCADA support, and new IT communications. - Confirmed annual report timeline: November review, December 3 presentation due, December 8 council presentation. - Adjourned at 7:46 p.m.