A legal challenge last week canceled a planned closed-door meeting on the Rappahannock County Public Library’s possible relocation, as yard signs opposing the library’s potential move to Rush River Commons appeared around the county. The Rappahannock County Public Library Board of Trustees’ relocation negotiation committee was scheduled to meet Aug. 18, but the meeting was canceled following a legal attempt to block it. The issue is part of a lawsuit filed on Aug. 4 by several county residents, represented by local attorney David Konick, who allege that the library board illegally withheld documents related to negotiations with Black Kettle LLC over a potential move to Rush River Commons. Konick said in an interview that he and some of his clients received an email last Thursday announcing a committee meeting for Aug. 18. He then filed an emergency motion asking the Circuit Court to block the board and committee from discussing the relocation until Judge Thomas Horne issued his ruling.
The Accomack County School Board will have a special session Tuesday, August 25 to discuss the controversy surrounding the appointment of the Chincoteague Combined School Athletic Director. … When current Athletic Director Jimmy Bloxom applied for the position the qualifications did not require a college degree. But calling it a clerical error, the administration revised the requirements to require the degree which would have eliminated Bloxom as a candidate. The School Board will open the meeting and then go into executive session do discuss the situation and decide the issue. The public will be informed of their decision following the end of the executive session. There is no public comment period on the agenda.
NOTE: At the risk of splitting hairs, Virginia FOIA has not used the term “executive session” for more than 25 years. And they may well “decide the issue” in closed session, but they can’t just “inform” the public after that. They will have to take a vote.
The ARLnow app just picked up two big new features, starting with a real-time feed of local public safety incidents. The other is a daily audio briefing — a 4-5 minute rundown of the past day of ARLnow original reporting, playable from the home screen. The Scanner tab, in the bottom navigation bar, lists incidents as they’re dispatched: what was reported, a plain-English summary, the block or intersection, and a timestamp. Scanner reports are preliminary by nature. Details change once crews get on scene, and some calls turn out to be nothing at all — the feed shows what’s being dispatched, then updates the summary when possible as the incident unfolds.
