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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Leesburg Town Council Meeting - September 22, 2026

Town Council & Commissions — Tuesday, September 22, 2026
BodyLeesburg, Virginia
SessionTown Council & Commissions
DateTuesday, September 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 50:13

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:56

That's the first movement from Mozart's string quartet number seventeen titled Hunt.

1:02

One of his most popular in the genre for sure, and also one of the quartets dedicated to the father of the string quartet, Joseph Haydn.

1:12

That was the Emerson String Quartet performing.

1:14

I'm Scott Blinken Shim.

1:16

Thanks so much for listening.

1:22

Some things in life are just essential.

1:25

The air you breathe, the food you eat, the companionship you enjoy with close friends and family.

1:31

Classical music is essential too.

1:34

And here at your classical, we have a stream dedicated to the essentials of classical music.

1:40

From Mozart to Vivaldi.

2:14

We'll be giving the invocation, followed by I will lead in the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:19

Councilmember Kerkowski.

2:21

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

2:24

As we gather tonight for our council meeting, let us take a moment to celebrate Leesburg's 260th eighth anniversary in Constitution Week.

2:31

Let us remember what makes our community strong, our shared history, our commitment to one another, and our ability to participate in the democratic process.

2:39

The fact that we can gather here, citizens and elected officials together to listen, speak, disagree respectfully, and shape the future of our community is something worth recognizing and protecting.

2:50

May we honor those who came before us by being good stewards of the community they entrusted to us, and may we leave Leesburg stronger for those who came after us.

2:59

And I would be remiss if I didn't wish our esteemed town manager a fond and well-deserved farewell as he takes his last walk into retirement.

3:10

Thank you.

3:11

Please stand.

3:15

I pledge allegiance.

3:39

Did we hear anything from Mr.

3:40

Wilt?

3:41

Okay.

3:42

Um perhaps he'll be coming later.

3:44

Uh we have one set of minutes, the regular session minutes for September 8th, 2026.

3:51

Do I have a motion?

3:52

So moved by Councilmember Steinberg, seconded by Councilmember Nasi.

3:57

Um all in favor indicate by saying aye.

4:00

Aye.

4:00

Aye.

4:01

Uh no, and abstain.

4:04

So that's uh five zero one one.

4:10

Uh adopting the minutes agenda.

4:14

Uh do I have a motion to accept it?

4:16

Seven.

4:16

Councilmember Nasi, second.

4:18

Second.

4:19

Councilmember Cummings.

4:21

Are there any additions or deletions?

4:24

Seeing none, uh, indicate uh by saying aye that you approve.

4:28

Aye.

4:29

Aye.

4:29

Opposed.

4:32

That's uh six six um zero one.

4:37

All right.

4:38

Proclamations.

4:39

We have three proclamations tonight.

4:41

The first one is for the Leesburg Day, 260th anniversary, October 12th.

4:50

I need a motion to approve this proclamation.

4:55

Vice Mayor Simono Johnson.

4:58

Uh was that Miss Nasi?

5:00

Okay, all in favor, indicate by saying aye.

5:03

Opposed?

5:04

That's 501.

5:06

Um constitutional constitution week, September 17th to the 23rd.

5:12

Do I have a motion for that one?

5:14

Councilmember Nisi, second.

5:17

Councilmember Kurkowski, all in favor, indicate by saying aye.

5:21

Opposed, that passes 501.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████24%
Arts And Culture██████████████████████22%
Zoning Ordinances████████████████16%
Historical Preservation███████████████15%
Community Events██████████10%
Airport Operations████████8%
Short Term Rentals█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Leesburg Town Council Meeting - September 22, 2026

The Leesburg Town Council held a regular meeting on September 22, 2026, covering proclamations, a presentation from the Performing Arts Advisory Commission, regional commission updates, approval of a consent agenda, and a public hearing on batch amendments to the Town Code. All agenda items were approved with votes ranging from 5-0-1 to 6-0.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: Approved the regular session minutes of September 8, 2026 (vote 5-0-1).
  • Consent Agenda: Approved four items en bloc: Airport Air Traffic Control Tower Project - Construction Grant Agreement; Budget Amendment for Fiscal Year 2027; Town Attorney’s Employment Contract - Revised; and South Street Water Main Replacement Project (vote 6-0).

Proclamations

  • Leesburg Day 268th Anniversary: Proclaimed October 12, 2026 as Leesburg Day, recognizing the town's founding in 1758. Received by Laura Christiansen.
  • Constitution Week: Proclaimed September 17–23, 2026 as Constitution Week. Received by representatives of the Ketoctin Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
  • Retirement of Kaj H. Dentler: Honored for 30 years of dedicated service to the Town of Leesburg, including 12 years as Town Manager. Mr. Dentler expressed gratitude. Each proclamation was approved with a majority vote (one abstention noted).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No speakers signed up for the Petitioners section or the public hearing on batch amendments. No testimony was given.

Discussion Items

  • Performing Arts Advisory Commission FY2026 Annual Report: Chair Anthony Cimino-Johnson and commissioners presented accomplishments: Mistletoe Market (December 2025), Senior Capstone Recital (March 2026), and Music George Washington Heard (June 2026). Budget of $13,100 was approved by council. Future plans include a Memory and Melody program for seniors, partnership with Loudoun County’s comprehensive arts plan, exploring a grant-making model, and a possible future performing arts venue. Councilmember Krukowski praised the commission and suggested earlier advertising for the capstone recital.
  • Regional Commission Reports: Councilmember Simono Johnson reported on a VML legislative committee meeting addressing short-term rental housing. Councilmember Cummings reported on an MBTA meeting regarding the Route 15/Leesburg Bypass/Edwards Ferry Road interchange project; the project was put on hold due to lack of funding.
  • Public Hearing – Batch Amendments to Town Code: Staff presented a comprehensive set of code amendments covering the Thomas Balch Library Endowment Foundation, financial board governance, airport commercial operator fees, department title updates, short-term rental tax reporting, running bamboo regulations, photo speed monitoring updates, parking provisions, and utility fee adjustments. Councilmember Cummings expressed concern about fines for running bamboo given the town's own park has bamboo; the Town Manager assured the bamboo would be removed. The ordinance was approved with a 6-0 vote.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved meeting minutes and consent agenda.
  • Adopted three proclamations.
  • Received and noted the Performing Arts Advisory Commission annual report.
  • Approved the batch amendments to the Town Code (ordinance) by a vote of 6-0.
  • The public hearing was closed with no public input.
  • Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

That's the first movement from Mozart's string quartet number seventeen titled Hunt. One of his most popular in the genre for sure, and also one of the quartets dedicated to the father of the string quartet, Joseph Haydn. That was the Emerson String Quartet performing. I'm Scott Blinken Shim. Thanks so much for listening. Some things in life are just essential. The air you breathe, the food you eat, the companionship you enjoy with close friends and family. Classical music is essential too. And here at your classical, we have a stream dedicated to the essentials of classical music. From Mozart to Vivaldi. We'll be giving the invocation, followed by I will lead in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilmember Kerkowski. Thank you, Madam Mayor. As we gather tonight for our council meeting, let us take a moment to celebrate Leesburg's 260th eighth anniversary in Constitution Week. Let us remember what makes our community strong, our shared history, our commitment to one another, and our ability to participate in the democratic process. The fact that we can gather here, citizens and elected officials together to listen, speak, disagree respectfully, and shape the future of our community is something worth recognizing and protecting. May we honor those who came before us by being good stewards of the community they entrusted to us, and may we leave Leesburg stronger for those who came after us. And I would be remiss if I didn't wish our esteemed town manager a fond and well-deserved farewell as he takes his last walk into retirement. Thank you. Please stand. I pledge allegiance. Did we hear anything from Mr. Wilt? Okay. Um perhaps he'll be coming later. Uh we have one set of minutes, the regular session minutes for September 8th, 2026. Do I have a motion? So moved by Councilmember Steinberg, seconded by Councilmember Nasi. Um all in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Uh no, and abstain. So that's uh five zero one one. Uh adopting the minutes agenda. Uh do I have a motion to accept it? Seven. Councilmember Nasi, second. Second. Councilmember Cummings. Are there any additions or deletions? Seeing none, uh, indicate uh by saying aye that you approve. Aye. Aye. Opposed. That's uh six six um zero one. All right. Proclamations. We have three proclamations tonight. The first one is for the Leesburg Day, 260th anniversary, October 12th. I need a motion to approve this proclamation.

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