The Smithfield Town Council began its July 28 committee meetings with a nearly hour-long closed session. Councilman Darren Cutler is now questioning whether some of what was discussed should have been done openly in view of the public. Town Attorney Bill Riddick said on July 28 that a closed session was needed to discuss “two matters,” both of which he said fell under “consultation with legal counsel regarding legal advice.” Cutler said the council discussed “a number of items” during that closed-door meeting, but did not elaborate on what specifically was discussed. Cutler asked at the Aug. 5 meeting to create a process where the council would be briefed in closed session on the need for the session, then vote in open session to go into closed session, “before we discuss the meat of the topic.”

Fauquier County community development staff say they have received an unprecedented number of public comments with questionable authenticity on the proposed Gigaland data center project in Remington, complicating how that feedback will be presented to the Board of Supervisors before its rezoning decision next month. The issue surfaced following the Planning Commission’s June 18 recommendation to deny the rezoning application. Adam Shellenberger, assistant director of community development, said staff first noticed inconsistencies when an email of support contained a Culpeper ZIP code alongside a Remington address. Shortly after, staff observed a large number of nearly identical emails of support, differing only in contact details. At least two messages appeared to have been sent in the names of county employees who denied sending them or being aware of the messages. Shellenberger said staff members have no practical way to verify the authenticity of each message and have not received guidance from county administration or the county attorney on how to address the issue in the staff report. Currently, all comments will be included in the public record.

Martinsville City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides’ status has switched from fired to suspended, following the city council’s decision to adhere to termination instructions in the city charter. The decision comes almost a week after councilors voted to fire Ferrell-Benavides with cause following an Aug. 7 closed session. During their Tuesday regular session, councilors decided to amend their previous decision by conforming to language in the city charter. Tuesday’s decision temporarily undoes the Aug. 7 termination.

A district judge has dismissed assault charges brought by a now-suspended Hopewell city councilor against Hopewell’s city attorney, claiming that it appeared that the councilor was overemphasizing the incident. In a hearing Aug. 12 in Hopewell General District Court, Judge George Barton Chucker – who was brought in to hear the case after Hopewell judges recused themselves – watched a livestream video of the meeting, then uttered, “I’m done. Dismissed.” Later on, he chided the complainant, Dominic Holloway Sr., for filing the charge, calling it “completely inappropriate.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says UVa was responsible for 40 birds’ deaths this past February after a predator broke into a research aviary and killed them. UVa has disputed some of the USDA findings. According to a public report on the bird deaths, two holes were dug by an unnamed predator underneath a fence and into the outdoor aviary at UVa’s Mountain Lake Biological Station on Salt Pond Mountain in Giles County this past February. Researching UVa’s work with birds, Chandna said she believes they were part of an experiment into neuroplasticity, which is how the brain learns. The lead researcher of that study did not respond to Daily Progress inquiries. Alka Chandna, who serves as vice president of laboratory investigations at PETA, is still waiting on UVa to respond to a public records request for more information about the study.