Taking a Roanoke Times editorial and tailoring it to Christiansburg, what if:
"Christiansburg Town Council decided Lance Terpenny was no longer wanted as town manager. Terpenny's penchant for having his way didn't fail him...as he will leave next spring rather than this fall as council initially intended.
"The announcement followed a lengthy executive meeting and simply stated that Terpenny would retire. Council neither voted nor offered the reasons behind booting Terpenny.
"Whether Terpenny's management style or the direction he was heading did him in will be the subject of parlor games -- unless council steps up and sets the record straight.
"It could easily be speculated that council members found fault with his lack of transparency in communicating with both them and the public. If so, they do nothing to reverse gears by ducking questions.
"Equally important, council needs to tell the public what it expects from the next town manager because there is a huge distinction between a strong town manager form of government -- which Christiansburg most certainly needs -- and a too-strong personality type that left them out of the decision-making process.
"We hope it is style and not form that bothered council. The last thing Christiansburg needs is a part-time mayor and council micromanaging town affairs.
"A weak manager cast as Terpenny's replacement would leave the town rudderless and with a crew of elected officials each rowing in different directions. Think town government is dysfunctional now? It could be far worse.
"...Council still must fight any tendency to replace the strong-willed Terpenny with a door mat. A town with a strong town manager form of government can still end up with a weak person in that role.
“Ideally, there needs to be a balance where the manager offers leadership and direction but also recognizes that council members are the people's representatives who set the ultimate course and who must have access to the information necessary to make wise decisions.
"The juxtaposition of Terpenny's strong style and less-inquiring former councils tilted the balance too far in his favor. He shared with council what he thought it needed to know, and nothing more. This is a practice the current council bucked.
"In the interest of making informed choices, it has demanded of Terpenny information that at times he hasn't been willing to share -- a practice that hampers council and alienates the public.
"A savvy town manager recognizes that communication strengthens not only the relationship with council but with the community."
To be clear, Christiansburg Town Council has taken no such action. Readers, however, may want to think about whether Roanoke's situation with City Manager Darlene Burcham has any relevance or fits Christiansburg, too.