City Council held a public hearing Tuesday night on whether to accept state money to purchase two propane buses for a shuttle service along Mount Cross Road to Averett University’s north campus.
No citizen stepped forward to speak on the item, which is scheduled to be voted on by City Council at its Dec. 6 meeting.
Last month, the state approved a contract to fully finance the purchase of the buses and construction of a bus shelter for the new service. The contract would provide $269,226 from the Virginia Department of Transportation.
State funds will finance 100 percent of the project cost. No local share is required for this appropriation. Averett University will provide contract revenue to offset operating costs for the new service. The bus service would start in August.
Council could not vote on this matter Tuesday because it was a first reading only. A first reading is an introductory step required by City code before certain matters can be voted upon by City Council. This step serves to provide public notice of pending action.
This matter was the only item on the agenda for last night’s business session. However, during closing communications, several Council members said in a future meeting that they want to consider an option meant to aid families of first responders killed in line of duty.
Last week, Virginia voters passed a constitutional amendment to allow the General Assembly to give localities the option of exempting those spouses from taxes on their real estate. City Council must wait for the amendment to take effect before taking action.
Council's meeting included a business session followed by a work session. In work sessions, Council reviews non-routine matters that will be voted upon in future business meetings. In Tuesday’s work session, City Council reviewed monthly financial statements and agreed to schedule votes on the following items:
• abandonment of right-of-way off Eastwood Drive
• declaration of 205 Jefferson Ave. as a blighted property and adoption of an abatement plan for the property
• amendment to the City Code to provide for civil penalties for certain violations of the state building code
• appointments to the Employee Retirement System, Fair Housing Board, Planning Commission and Dan River Alcohol Safety Action Program.
River City TV airs live all Council business sessions. The first rebroadcast will be at 8 p.m. Thursday. Watch it on cable (Comcast channel 10 and Gamewood channel 122). The taped broadcast is available now on the City’s YouTube channel -- DanvilleVAGov.
River City TV does not air work sessions, but they are open to the public.