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Attorney General Jason Miyares wants the Supreme Court of Virginia to grant him access to sealed records of a former chair of the Virginia Parole Board, which he’s now investigating. Miyares filed the motion Wednesday asking the court to grant him access to the sealed records, which relate to a prior investigation of Judge Adrianne Bennett, a former parole board chair, by the state’s Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission. “The Attorney General’s investigation to date has revealed that during these 44 days, Judge Bennett took direct, and often personal, action with respect to the parole and early release from parole of many violent convicted felons,” the attorney general’s motion says. “The Attorney General has determined that a full, transparent accounting of Judge Bennett’s actions as Chair of the Board is necessary to restore public confidence in the Board.”
Richmond Times-Dispatch
After Roanoke Councilwoman Stephanie Moon Reynolds objected to Mayor Sherman Lea’s receiving $2,500 a year as a personal vehicle-use stipend, Lea and Vice Mayor Trish White-Boyd have criticized Moon Reynolds for her spending on business meals, travel and training and development. Moon spent more public funds on official duties in key discretionary categories this fiscal year than other council members and the mayor combined — $5,747.48 — a figure Lea called “concerning” in light of her publicly challenging him over a money request earlier this month. White-Boyd said she thought it was questionable that Moon Reynolds “was talking about not burdening the taxpayer with the $2,500” while she herself spent twice that. When asked about the criticism of her, Moon Reynolds told The Roanoke Times she attended a number of conferences and events for networking and training – ordinary expenditures for a council member. None of Moon Reynold’s training, travel and event attendance departs from policy, according to a preliminary review by Municipal Auditor Drew Harmon, whose office will audit council spending after June 30.
The Roanoke Times
Members of the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors earn just $2,400 annually, making them tied with Craig County as the lowest paid elected officials in the role statewide, according to data from the Virginia Association of Counties. While it appears intuitive that a small rural area like Rappahannock lacks the budget to more equitably compensate its officials, the Supervisors’ pay also reflects a deliberate effort on behalf of past and present members of the body to ensure it remains the lowest in Virginia. Today there’s consensus among the body that their pay should remain unchanged, despite the Supervisors’ growing roles in the community as they graduate from primarily overseeing small-town zoning matters and a modest budget to undertaking vast initiatives like expanding internet access and managing millions of dollars in COVID-19 stimulus.
Rappahannock News
The South Hill Town Council debated the appointment of Directors on the Community Development Association at the Monday, May 9 regular meeting. Gavin Honeycutt made the motion to approve the nominees as presented with a second from Shep Moss. Alex Graham stated during discussion that he would like for the Council to have more time to review and talk about the nominees before they are voted on. “I just want to know if Council can discuss the list amongst themselves before it is voted on.” Lily Feggins-Boone said that when the Council has previously spoken about the members of CDA Board, they wanted “transparency”. “I think at least one name on here should not be on here; for transparency. If we want to be transparent about it.” Nominees for two-year terms included Tammy Manning, Vin Montgomery, Carmen Taylor, and Robert Smith. Nominees for four-year terms included LJ Dornak, Jeremy Lynch, and Brent Morris. The nominee list was created and recommended by Mayor Dean Marion.
South Hill Enterprise
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