A handful of parents were protesting outside the Smyth County Administration building prior to the School Board’s Monday evening meeting. The protestors, along with several others, moved inside for the meeting, where several signed up to speak. Despite Vice Chairman Paul Grinstead announcing twice to the crowd that they had to fill out the public comment sign-up form completely – name and physical address, two people only listed their names and were denied the opportunity to speak. … Some of the parents’ frustration may have stemmed from an earlier failed attempt to speak to the School Board. They mistakenly understood that the school board was meeting on May 28 at 3 p.m. The meeting was at 5 p.m. and was not a regular meeting during which public comments were accepted.
Former Martinsville City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides has filed a federal lawsuit against Martinsville, city council member Aaron Rawls, and the law firm Sands Anderson, alleging discrimination, retaliation and a coordinated effort to destroy her professional reputation. … In the complaint, she argues that her dismissal was not based on legitimate concerns about city operations but instead resulted from racial discrimination, retaliation for protected activity, and her efforts to question the conduct of the city’s outside law firm. … Central to the lawsuit is an investigation conducted by Sands Anderson. … The filing also alleges the city failed to provide contractual severance benefits and denied requests for a name-clearing hearing after publicly accusing her of misconduct.
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Purcellville Vice Mayor Carl “Ben” Nett’s attorney has asked that the Loudoun County Circuit Court deny a request by Special Prosecutor Eric Olsen to vacate a jury’s decision following a civil trial in April. Attorney Jennifer McGovern filed the request June 12. Olsen filed a motion May 28 seeking to set aside the verdict issued by a seven-member jury that allows Nett to retain his office. … In her brief, McGovern disagrees with that argument and says Olsen should have raised objections during the trial in April. … Olsen said in his filing that his research showed that upon finding the statutory grounds for removal have been proven by “clear and convincing evidence,” removal from office is required.
