Lynchburg City Council Meeting: October 27, 2026 – Forensic Audit, Flock Resolution, and Public Comment on Free Speech

The Lynchburg City Council met on October 27, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included recognitions, consent agenda approvals, public hearings, extensive public comment, and general business items, notably a contentious debate over a forensic audit and a resolution regarding the Flock surveillance system. Votes were taken on multiple items, with several passing on 7-0 votes and others narrowly divided.

Recognitions

• Nurse Practitioner Week: A proclamation declaring November 8–14, 2026 as Nurse Practitioner Week was read and presented to representatives of the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners.
• Ms. Doris Waller: Recognized as the “unofficial mayor of Lynchburg” for decades of community service, including work with the Legacy Museum and youth mentorship. Ms. Waller, age 92, addressed the council.

Consent Calendar

• September 3, 2026 Special Called Meeting Minutes: Approved 4-3 after being moved to the end of general business.
• September 8, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes: Approved 4-2 with one abstention (Councilmember Misjuns abstained due to illness).
• September 22, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes: Approved as part of the consent agenda.
• Ordinance #O-26-093 (FY 2027 First Quarter Adjustments): Adopted.
• Resolution #R-26-094 (Amending FY 2027 City/Federal/State Aid Fund Budget): Adopted, appropriating $62,377 for staffing in the Lynchburg Adult Recovery Court.

Public Hearings

• Resolution #R-26-096 (Centra Health Hangar Lease): Approved 7-0. The five-year lease (with five one-year options) allows Centra Health to continue operating a medical helicopter at Lynchburg Regional Airport, including a new office/training build-out.
• Resolution #R-26-097 (American Airlines Lease): Approved 7-0 after a technical amendment. The 30-year airline lease modernizes contract language for exclusive and common-use spaces at the airport.

Public Comments & Testimony

Item 10 – Local Historical Marker Program (Lou Baston, Jane Baber White Memorial Committee): Baston proposed a city-run marker program managed by the Lynchburg Museum System at no cost to taxpayers. A prototype marker for David Hugh Dillard (first board chairman of Centra’s Lynchburg General Hospital) was presented.

Item 11 – Busing Not Working (Alan Davis): Davis, a retired teacher, argued that busing disrupts student learning and requested elimination of school busing, with funds reallocated. He also supported providing water coolers for sanitation workers.

Item 12 – Constitution and Declaration of Independence (Stanley Hurt): Hurt questioned the 14th Amendment’s application to African Americans, asserting that no naturalization process occurred and that the term “minority” implies legal minority status. He urged the council to distribute the Constitution and Home Rule Charters.

Item 13 – Council Members Scaring Citizens into Silence (Fable Forrest): Forrest accused council members of retaliation, threats, and inconsistent application of rules. They cited specific instances, including Councilmember Misjuns’ social media posts and Councilmember Timmer’s comments about rape victims, and called for condemnation of hate speech.

Item 14 – First Amendment Right to Free Speech (Susan Stengel, League of Women Voters): Stengel defended Fable Forrest’s right to speak and criticized Councilmember Misjuns for threatening a lawsuit. She argued that speech with consequences, including hate speech, is not fully protected and that Councilmember Misjuns should be held accountable.

Item 15 – Accountability of Police Officers (Consuela Mosley): Mosley detailed a 2009 incident where she was tased twice (100,000 volts) and charged after a CVS employee falsely accused her of theft. She alleged officers conspired and that one officer bragged about tasering her. She asked for her record to be expunged and compensation.

Item 16 – Loving Your Neighbor (Brea Cassel): Cassel shared a personal story of childhood sexual abuse and criticized Councilmember Timmer’s past comments on sexual violence. She urged the council to show empathy and love for all neighbors, including marginalized groups.

Item 17 – Rules of Order (Andrea Yesalis): The agenda listed this item, but no speech was recorded in the transcript.

Item 18 – Public Trust (Laura Berardi): Berardi called for an independent forensic audit of city finances, citing $32 million committed to major projects while programs like the Nature Zone and pottery class faced funding cuts. She argued that trust requires verification.

Item 19 – Audit (Anton Tevelev): Tevelev echoed the call for an independent audit, criticizing spending on the Flock camera system, amphitheater, Miller Park pool, and high salaries for the city manager and city attorney. He also referenced the GLTC lawsuit involving $1.3 million.

Item 20 – The Power of Words, Part 2 (Karen Quigg, Republicans for Liberty): Quigg criticized council for not enforcing decorum rules when Fable Forrest spoke at a previous meeting. She defended Councilmember Misjuns, noted death threats against him, and urged the council to uphold consistent standards and moral responsibility.

Item 21 – The Power of Words, Part 3 (Chris Quigg): Quigg contrasted informal requests with formal motions, citing an example where Councilmember Misjuns’ motion ensured action on a citizen’s request. He quoted Proverbs and challenged three council members running for re-election to self-evaluate their leadership.

Discussion Items

Item 22 – Eagles Nest Women’s Recovery Center: A faith-based, nonprofit recovery home for women at the former group home on Cabell Street. The program includes job training and a thrift store. Council members expressed strong support. Motion passed 7-0.

Item 23 – 2027 Legislative Agenda: The annual document outlining the city’s advocacy priorities for the Virginia General Assembly. Several council members noted they did not support every item but voted for the overall package. Motion passed 7-0.

Item 24 – Forensic Review of Compliance with City Code § 2-42(a) (Councilmember Misjuns): This resolution sparked extended debate and multiple motions.

• Councilmember Ferrari offered a substitute motion that revised the scope and legal standards, removed clauses that would freeze pay and prohibit ratification, and required an exception report. The substitute motion passed 4-3 (Ferrari, Reed, Wilder, Taylor in favor; Misjuns, Timmer, Jordan opposed).
• Councilmember Misjuns then moved to restore clauses 5 and 6 (freeze and no ratification without council vote). That amendment failed 3-4 (Misjuns, Timmer, Jordan in favor; Ferrari, Reed, Wilder, Taylor opposed).
• Councilmember Misjuns attempted a second amendment to strike a sentence from clause one; it failed 3-4.
• The main motion (as amended by the substitute) then passed 4-3 (Ferrari, Reed, Wilder, Taylor in favor; Misjuns, Timmer, Jordan opposed). The resolution authorizes an RFP for a forensic audit but does not include the freeze or clawback provisions. Council will receive a report by December 2026.

Item 25 – Flock Group Inquiry Resolution (Councilmember Timmer): The resolution directs the city manager to obtain written clarification from Flock regarding prepaid refunds, penalties, and contractual notice procedures. Councilmember Timmer argued it is necessary to determine the most cost-effective and legally sound way to end the Flock agreement. The transcript shows the vote was initiated; the outcome was not recorded but the meeting proceeded to approve minutes, indicating likely passage. (The resolution had support from some members who wanted more information before terminating.)

Item 26 – Second Reading: FY 2026 Fourth Quarter Adjustments (Ordinance #O-26-092): Approved 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• Centra Health Hangar Lease: Approved 7-0.
• American Airlines Lease: Approved 7-0.
• Eagles Nest Women’s Recovery Center: Approved 7-0.
• 2027 Legislative Agenda: Approved 7-0.
• FY 2026 Fourth Quarter Adjustments: Approved 7-0.
• Forensic Audit Resolution (as amended): Passed 4-3. An RFP for an independent forensic audit will be issued; no freeze on pay or prohibition on ratification.
• Flock Inquiry Resolution: Vote initiated; believed to have passed (outcome not explicitly recorded in transcript).
• September 3, 2026 Minutes: Approved 4-3.
• September 8, 2026 Minutes: Approved 4-2 with one abstention.
• Public Comments: Heard on local history markers, busing, constitutional issues, free speech, police accountability, city spending, and decorum. No formal council action resulted from comments.