Goochland Supervisors to appoint new county administrator on May 23
The fourth and final edition for this week!
A fourth and final edition of the Fifth District Community Engagement newsletter! And one posted a day before the only meeting tomorrow! I had not expected to get this one done today, but I’m sitting in a meeting. An actual government meeting!
For many years, I attended all of the meetings. When the pandemic hit, I pivoted to online as did everyone else and created Town Crier Productions. I’m just one person, and it’s easier to record meetings remotely. Sometimes I’ll record three at one time.
But at the moment I’m at a meeting of the Charlottesville Board of Zoning Appeals as they hear their first “administrative modification” under the new code. Here’s a background story I wrote.
For those readers who don’t read the Charlottesville Community Engagement, Charlottesville City Council approved an a new zoning code in December 2023 that increases residential density.
One reason I created Town Crier Productions in 2020 was to cover this process so I can explain to everyone what’s happening. I’m dedicated to doing this because I believe it’s important and I take the risk of hoping others will pay me to keep going. I don’t have any grant funding for this, and resist grant funding because in my experience it comes with strings.
My wish would be to extend this detailed coverage to all localities in the Fifth District, but I’m just one person. I’m trying to infect other people with a love of civic process.
Questions about any of it? Let me know. Now, let’s get to the one meeting and don’t skimp on the reading material!
Goochland Supervisors to hold special meeting to appoint new administrator
The five members of the Goochland Board of Supervisors will convene in a special meeting at 8:45 a.m. on May 23, 2025. (agenda)
The primary reason for the meeting is to appoint a new administrator. Manuel "Manny" Alvarez, a two-term member of the Board of Supervisors, has been serving in the position on an interim basis since February. Victor Carpenter resigned that month after serving in the position for just over two years, according to an article on Go RVA.
The resolution does not identify who has been hired. The new administrator will start work on June 9, 2025.
After the appointment, Supervisors will go into closed session. They’ll meet again on June 2, 2025.
Reading material:
Powhatan promotes deputy administrator after previous administrator leaves for Hanover, Ryan Nadeau, WRIC 8 News, May 19, 2025
Albemarle Planning Commission votes to recommend approval for Forest School on Dudley Mountain Road, Sean Tubbs, C-Ville Weekly, May 20, 2025
Solar project approved half a mile from Lunenburg County border, Brian Carlton, Kenbridge-Victoria Dispatch, May 20, 2025:
Cotton Mill tower in South Boston placed on most endangered list by Preservation Virginia, Gazette-Virginian, May 21, 2025
New joint Charlottesville-Albemarle courthouse prepares for June opening, Hawes Spencer, Charlottesville Daily Progress (paywall), May 21, 2025
Amherst council to interview applicants for vacant seat on May 29, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News and Advance (paywall), May 21, 2025
Commission recommends denial of solar operation in Amherst, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News and Advance (paywall), May 21, 2025
Bid process authorized for new Nelson Social Services building, Lynchburg News and Advance, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News and Advance (paywall), May 21, 2025
Central Virginia Health District confirms rabies in a fox, Altavista Journal, May 21, 2025
Real estate developer suing Lynchburg City Council, Kaira Willis, WDBJ-7 News, May 21, 2025
Opponents of Charlottesville jail renovation willing to risk millions to derail project, Caroline King, Charlottesville Daily Progress (paywall), May 22, 2025