At the August 18 Planning Commission (PC) meeting, a recommendation to reappoint retiring Councilman Dan Canada was formulated. Canada had been appointed to town council from the PC, began to run for office and then retreated from the May 2008 election due to other obligations. This appointment would fill a position vacated when Jim VanHoozier transitioned from the planning group to town council. Enough to make the head's of regular observers of town government spin, as well as casual observers? Another member of the PC then indicated he would not be seeking reappointment for his term, expiring August 31. So the search committee needed to reconvene and re-advertise for interested candidates on this second vacancy.
At this Tuesday's town meeting, Councilman Mike Barber asked where the PC was on filling the second vacancy. The Planning Commission had met the previous day and determined its choice from among three applicants, but the matter wasn't otherwise included on council's agenda. At Monday's PC meeting, Councilmen Ernie Wade and VanHoozier were also in attendance, purportedly as members of the viewing audience. They reportedly caucused against the commission's decision, according to some citizens in attendance.
Town Manager Terpenny (also the PC secretary, Zoning Administrator, Chief Financial Officer and president elect of the Virginia Municipal League), stated the Planning Commission was recommending former councilman Steve Huppert.
"Then what's the hold up?" Barber asked. "I move we appoint Steve Huppert." This was seconded immediately, and subsequently approved by unanimous vote.
Not to be overlooked and also at the end of the meeting, Councilman Brad Stipes reported that a full court thrust was now being made on the town's revamped, new website and committed to this being launched on January 1, 2009.