Southampton County Public Schools Chairwoman Dr. Deborah Goodwyn provided context Monday, April 14, pertaining to the level of communication that had come from the Southampton County School Board’s attorney prior to the county Board of Supervisors’ recent decision to file suit against SCPS. The suit was filed because of a reported lack of response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests submitted by Troutman Pepper Locke LLP, the firm representing the Southampton County Board of Supervisors. Continuing the timeline from the Dec. 20 receipt of the requests, Goodwyn said, “Now, of course, Southampton County Public Schools was closed for Winter Break, but on the eighth of January, Southampton County School Board sent a letter to the FOIA requester acknowledging receipt of the FOIA request and invoking a seven-work-day extension. “On the eighth, we received an auto-reply from that requester advising that that person was out of the office,” she continued. “On January the 21st, our counsel sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors’ counsel advising them that the production and volume of the FOIA request would interfere with the division’s ability to meet its operational responsibilities and requested to meet to discuss narrowing, clarifying and refining the request. “Our counsel also informed the Board of Supervisors’ counsel at that time that the cost of supplying those records would be extremely expensive,” she added.

Lawrence Benjamin Green insists that a comment he made in January about a female Town employee doesn’t meet the definition of sexual harassment. Blackstone’s ex-Mayor also says the employee’s complaint was so poorly handled by Town Manager Philip Vannoorbeeck, it is the Town Manager’s actions that deserve Council’s immediate attention and full scrutiny. Green, 64, resigned last Wednesday afternoon — less than 24 hours after attending a special meeting called by Council to discuss the complaint that has rocked Town Hall for the past month. Green had led the Town since Jan. 2023. In his resignation letter that appears today on page 2, Green insists he “did not make any lewd or salacious comments” on January 8th — the date he was overheard by the employee gushing about her appearance while Green was meeting in the Town Manager’s office with Vannoorbeeck and Councilman Chris Page. In closed session last Tuesday night, April 15th, Green presented officials an “executive summary” of events prepared by his attorney. Also during closed session, Council President Eric Nash presented copies of the insurance company’s report on the investigation into the employee’s complaint.

The Virginia State Bureau of Criminal Investigation is actively probing the alleged misuse of a credit card that belongs to the Town of Cape Charles, according to Sergeant Michelle Anaya. A special prosecutor has been appointed, and “we are coordinating with them on getting business records related to the alleged misuse,” Anaya said. No other details were available.

In the face of strong community opposition, the Purcellville Town Council onTuesday night reversed plans to disband the police department. During an unprecedented showing of public support with more than 300people packed into Town Hall, the Town Council voted to fully fund the Police Department in fiscal year 2026. The council chambers were standing room only as residents overflowed into the lobby, conference rooms and upstairsoffice. The meeting was streamed into each of the locations and cast via a projector onto a large screen to a community members gathered on the lawn outside.

Commonwealth Attorney Bob Anderson notified Purcellville town council members on April 22 that the Office of the Attorney General has authorized Virginia State Police to conduct a criminal investigation into Purcellville Vice Mayor Carl “Ben” Nett. The Times-Mirror obtained Anderson’s letter to the council through a Freedom of Information Act request. “Because of this open investigation, it is critical that ALL records of the Purcellville Police Department (PPD), including but not limited to personnel records, are preserved as required by the Virginia Public Records Act at section 42.1-88. Additionally, Vice Mayor Nett should be prevented from accessing all police department records, voting on all matters involving the PPD, and attending meetings involving discussion about PPD,” Anderson’s email stated.