Blacksburg Town Council Meeting – August 9, 2022

The Blacksburg Town Council met on August 9, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers. The meeting included consent agenda items, a public hearing on appropriating $13,364,987 in ARPA funds, an appointment to the regional emergency communications authority, and a work session on the Rescue Squad Chief and EMS cost recovery. Councilmember Susan Mattingly was absent; Councilmember Lauren Colliver disclosed a personal interest in one consent item and abstained from voting on it.

Consent Calendar

• Item A: Approved the Blacksburg Public Arts Committee Bylaws unanimously (roll call: 6-0).
• Item B: Scheduled a public hearing for September 13, 2022, on Conditional Use Permit 22-0004 (Blue Ridge Axe Throwing, LLC, at 125 North Main Street, Suite 200) for Commercial Indoor Sports and Recreation. Approved unanimously.
• Item C (separately considered): Councilmember Colliver read a formal disclosure under the Virginia Conflict of Interest Act, stating she owns the property at 120 Professional Park Drive, Suite 8. She abstained from voting on CUP 22-0003 (Valley Active Fitness and Rehab, Personal Improvement Service). The remaining five councilmembers voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing for September 13, 2022.

Public Hearings

• Ordinance 1996 – ARPA Budget Amendment: Town Manager Marc Verniel presented the allocation of $13,364,987 in American Rescue Plan (ARP/CSLFRF) revenues: $9,364,987 for capital expenditures (consistent with the previously approved ARPA report) and $4,000,000 to the Affordable Housing Development Fund. Verniel noted the town conducted extensive public input since fall 2021 to develop the spending plan. No public comment was offered.
  • Key Outcome: Councilmembers Sutphin and Bush abstained; the remaining four voted aye. Because Blacksburg Town Code § 2-108(c) requires at least five affirmative votes to appropriate more than $500, the ordinance did not pass. It was placed on the August 23 agenda under Unfinished Business for reconsideration.

Appointment

• Kevin Faust was appointed as the At-Large member of the New River Emergency Communications Regional Authority, replacing Alan Fabian. The motion passed unanimously (6-0).

Council Announcements

• Vice Mayor Anderson thanked Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. staff for the successful Steppin’ Out event. Councilmember Sutphin announced upcoming events: the Dialogue on Race and the Renew the New cleanup on August 27. He also noted the MPO’s approval of the Huckleberry Trail Plan, available on the MPO website.

Work Session (after adjournment at 6:38 p.m.)

• Rescue Squad Chief and EMS Cost Recovery Discussion: Town Manager Marc Verniel reviewed a proposal to create a paid Rescue Squad Chief position (akin to a department head, reporting to the Town Manager and working with the Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad Board of Directors) and implement an EMS cost recovery program charging reasonable fees for emergency transport, with compassionate billing provisions. Christiansburg has used a similar model since 2013. Verniel stated the goal is to recruit and hire a Chief by the end of 2022 and implement cost recovery for FY23-24. Further discussion on agreements and updates to Council will follow.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda items A and B approved unanimously; item C approved 5-0 (Colliver abstaining).
• Ordinance 1996 failed to receive the required five affirmative votes (4-0-2); placed on August 23 agenda as unfinished business.
• Kevin Faust appointed to the New River Emergency Communications Regional Authority (6-0).
• Work session discussion concluded with a plan to move forward on Rescue Squad Chief recruitment and EMS cost recovery, with further updates to Council. No formal vote taken.