First, an apology. I have been terribly busy for the past few weeks, so haven’t had the chance to write any more articles. Abby, I have not forgotten you. Please comment below if you still want to be interviewed. Also, if anyone wants to guest-write an article for the neighborhood, I would be happy to share this blog.
Now for the actual subject of this article: The Williamsburg City Council.
Wait! Wait! Please don’t click away! Please!
Phew. Thanks for giving me a chance to explain.
I have a confession. Until very recently, I neither knew, nor much cared, about how the Williamsburg city government works. Ordinances, taxes, assessments, school policy…it all just happened in the background. So long as nothing changed drastically, I didn’t pay attention. (Except for the tax on business gross receipts. I did notice that.)
Then, two things triggered my attention. First, I allowed myself to be bamboozled into signing a petition sponsored by a political interest group masquerading as a concerned citizen. That led me to look into the school board. Next, Nancy Bolash asked me to write a flyer for a city council candidates forum the BLRA will be co-hosting. That forced me to learn a bit more about our city government, and it has been eye-opening.
Let’s take a look at this org chart I lifted from the City Council Policy and Procedures document.
Note the lines in blue. These are officials for whom we vote directly. I’m happy to see the court system, revenue oversight authority, and election oversight are independent, not under the City Council umbrella. (Wouldn’t that be a gross conflict of interest?) However, the authority for every other city government activity flows from the CC through direct or indirect appointments.
I am not saying this form of government is a bad thing. What I am saying is that who holds a seat on the CC is much more important than you might think.
Here is a list of the “Powers of the City Council” as defined in the same Policies and Procedures document noted above. It may look like a short list, but the responsibilities listed here are sweeping.
- Pass ordinances and resolutions that appropriate money, levy taxes, and require licenses.
- Adopt an annual budget.
- Sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded.
- Pass emergency measures to preserve public peace, property, health and safety.
- Choose the Mayor and Vice-Mayor from among Council members.
- Fill vacant Council seats.
- Appoint School Board Trustees.
- Appoint/remove the City Manager and City Attorney.
- Upon recommendation of the City Manager, appoint the Clerk of the Council.
- Review administrative decisions.
- Adopt Council meeting rules, set times, appoint Council officers and committees, compel member attendance.
- Appoint/remove members and chairs of boards and commissions.
- Inquire into the official conduct of any City office or officer under its control.
- Create, abolish, reassign, transfer, or combine City functions, activities, or departments.
- Order an independent audit of accounts, books, records and other financial transactions of the City.
- Fix the schedule of compensation for City officers and employees.
- Prescribe the amount and condition of surety bonds required of City officers and employees.
- Prescribe jail terms and fines, not to exceed 12 months or $1,000.
- Dedicate new public street(sic).
- Set collection, deposit and disbursement rules for City funds.
- Prescribe some of the duties of the Treasurer and Commissioner of the Revenue.
- Require the sale of delinquent real estate tax property.
- Issue negotiable bonds and notes.
- Pass zoning ordinances.
- Serve as five of the seven member Williamsburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners concurrent with City Council terms.
This list is very instructive, not the least because I learned that “impleaded” is an actual word.
Besides those authorities listed in the city charter, the City Council has all the rights and powers conferred on “cities of the first class” by the Code of Virginia. I took a look through the code and didn’t see anything unexpected. I’m not a lawyer, however, so I’d like to extend an invitation to any of the legal experts in our neighborhood to weigh in. What rights and powers are conferred on the Williamsburg City Council by the Code of Virginia?
Now to answer the question I posed at the top: City Council…Who Cares?
You do. Or rather, you should.
Well then, what can you do about it?
I’m so glad you asked, because the BLRA, in conjunction with the Downtown Neighborhood Alliance, is sponsoring a forum where we can meet the candidates and discuss downtown neighborhood issues. (City-wide issues will be addressed at other fora, of which I have heard rumors but no specifics.)
When: Monday, September 12, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
Where: The Downtown Williamsburg Library Auditorium
Format: If you’ve ever watched debates sponsored by the League of Women Voters, you will understand how this forum will be managed.
Candidates: Take a look at the flyer for a list of candidate names.
I urge everyone to attend. And please spread the word. Kerry Mellette dropped a press release we hope will reach everyone in the downtown area, but we also ask that you tell all your downtown neighborhood friends about the event. Finally, if you can’t make it, and you have questions for the candidates, please pass them along to someone who will be there.
I hope to see you all on Monday.
Steven Cummings
Benny Zhang
blrawebmaster