~Major detours will be in place during construction~ Beginning the first week of January, the City will begin replacing the 5th Street Bridge over Leigh Street and 7th Street Bridge over Leigh Street.  Motorists and pedestrians who travel the area will be affected.  While the bridges remain safe, the weight load for each bridge was reduced several years ago due to on-going wear. The $3.6 million dollar project is being funded through City and state funds.  The contract has been awarded to Corman Construction. The work will take place in two phases from January 5 through August.The following changes will be in place during construction: Phase 1: 7th Street Bridge over Leigh Street (January 5 to mid-May) 7th Street will be closed at Clay Street to through traffic. Clay Street between 7th Street and 8th Street will be a detour route. No on-street parking will be permitted from January thru May. 8th Street between Clay Street and Leigh Street will be a detour route. No on-street parkin

~ Mayor, Richmond Fire and Police are featured with pets ~ The City of Richmond’s Department of Animal Care and Control (RACC) has launched a calendar project for 2015 featuring Mayor Dwight Jones, Richmond Fire and Police officials and others. The 2015 RACC Calendar is a fundraising and exposure project and sales from the calendar will go to the RACC shelter for medical/surgery costs. “Our calendar showcases great places and faces of Richmond, and we believe it will become a sought-after item,” said Christie Chipps Peters, director of RACC. “While we are working to raise funds, we also hope the calendar will help generate more interest in adoptions.” The calendar features 12 unique photos, with dogs and cats that are available for adoption at RACC. Special locations like the Byrd Theater and the State Capitol are also featured. “I believe there is something for everyone in this calendar, and I’m proud of the effort RACC put forth to produce this,” said Mayor Jones. “I’m collect

Winter officially began on December 21st and lasts until March 19th. During these three months Richmond residents are often faced with times of severe cold which can be accompanied by winter storms that bring snow and ice. Winter Storms are often problematic because they often result in loss of power and communication, and can immobilize an entire region. It is important to be prepared to handle periods of severe cold, snow, and ice. During winter weather events consider minimizing travel on roads as most injuries and deaths are considered secondary and are usually the result of accident or injury. Take measure to prepare both at home and on the road. Consider keeping warm clothes and blankets in your vehicle and ensure your snow shovels are readily accessible in your home. For more information and to obtain winter preparedness tips, please click here . For information of preparing for a winter storm or other emergencies visit Ready.gov .

~ Construction of access road, vegetation removal clearing way for memorial bridge ~ The City of Richmond announced that work is progressing on the Richmond Riverfront Plan. A top priority of the Plan is construction of the Brown’s Island Dam Walk, now known as the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge (TTPMB). The area is regulated by the State Department of Conservation and Resources as a Low Hazard (Special Criteria) dam, and therefore all woody vegetation within 25 feet of the structure has to be removed. Since mid-November, the city and state have been working to clear the woody vegetation and to construct an access road in order to provide contractor access to the project site for the bridge construction.  The dam inspection report recommended removal of woody vegetation and debris in the south section of the dam and along various piers. The tree removal work meets the Low Head Dam requirements and also benefits the TTPMB project, by providing a construction entrance that can b

The City of Richmond encourages people throughout the Richmond region to complete a short online survey of proposed names for the future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service. A list of possible names for the BRT service was developed by the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC). You can help make the final decision by taking a short survey about the proposed names and you will also have an opportunity to suggest a name yourself. Click here to take the survey, now through January 1, 2015 . Everyone who completes the survey will be eligible for a random drawing to receive two tickets for the VCU Men’s Basketball game on January 7 or January 10, 2015. Fourteen pairs of tickets will be given away! GRTC will unveil the name of the BRT service, logo and vehicle design in the spring of 2015. To learn more about GRTC’s BRT Service and sign up to follow BRT progress, please visit www.ridegrtc.com . RVA’s first BRT line will be along a 7.6 mile corridor between Rocketts Landing and Willow Lawn. Th

Mayor Dwight C. Jones will host a Free Skate Night for the public on Wednesday, December 10 from 6 – 8 p.m. for the first 150 skaters at RVA On Ice. Mayor Jones will greet skaters and special guests before officially cutting the ribbon to kick off the Free Skate Night. Jack Berry, CEO of Richmond Region Tourism, will also welcome skaters and recognize the many generous sponsors who make this downtown holiday tradition possible. The Richmond Police Athletic League Youth Band will perform a few selections during the ceremony and members of the Mayor’s Youth Academy will also be in attendance as special guests of Mayor Jones. The regular skate admission price will be waived from 6 to 8 p.m. Participants are welcome to bring their own skates and skate rentals are available as well; $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children three and under. All upcoming events and promotions will be posted on both www.RVAOnIce.net and www.Facebook.com/RVAOnIce . Theme nights will return this year includ

~ U.S. Congressman Bobby Scott to be ceremony guest speaker and retiring Judge Richard D. Taylor to be honored ~   The Richmond Circuit Court’s Adult Drug Treatment Court will hold a graduation ceremony on Friday, December 5 at 1 p.m. at the Richmond Police Training Academy, 1202 West Graham Road. The Honorable Robert “Bobby” Scott, U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 3rd Congressional District, will be the guest speaker and Dalen Harris, representing the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy will also be present to acknowledge the achievements of the graduates. The ceremony will mark the completion of an intensive 18-month outpatient program of drug treatment, probation supervision, judicial monitoring and community service for five Adult Drug Court graduates. Additionally, a special presentation will take place honoring the years of service for retiring Judge Richard D. Taylor, Jr., Richmond Circuit Court (2002-2014) and former Juvenile Court Judge (1993-2002). As one of

~ Commonwealth Attorney, School Superintendent promote use ~ Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Herring revealed a Public Service Announcement (PSA) today featuring Redskin’s Cornerback Bashaud Breeland. The PSA was produced as a result of Breeland being cited with misdemeanor possession of marijuana in August of this year by a VCU Police Officer. The misdemeanor offense, which can often lead to community service sentencing, has instead resulted in the production of a public message that Herring sees as being more far-reaching and having potentially greater impact with young people than other more traditional forms of community services. “I saw this case, which qualifies for first-offender status, as a unique and different opportunity that presented us with the possibility of making a significant impact, as opposed to simply just giving out a punishment,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Herring. “Our goal here was to capitalize on Bashaud Breeland’s willingness to allow h

The purpose of the Request for Funding Combined Application is to solicit applications from various organizations to address unmet critical needs in both human services and economic and community development. Funding to support eligible programs is made possible through City General Funds and the following federal funds - Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnership (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and Housing Opportunity for Persons with AIDS/HIV (HOPWA). Please click here for the City General Fund and Federal Fund guidelines , here to obtain the FY16/FY17 Non-Departmental and Federal Funding Application ,or here to obtain the FY16/FY17 Non-Departmental Budget Pages Submission Form . Please call the City of Richmond Office of Budget and Strategic Planning at (804) 646-5778 if you have questions or need additional information.

City of Richmond government offices, including City Hall, will be closed on Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 for the Thanksgiving holiday. City offices will reopen at regular business hours on Monday, December 1, 2014. This closure includes all City community centers which are closed Thursday, November 27 through Sunday, November 30. All City community centers will reopen on Monday, December 1 at normal hours. All branches of the Richmond Public Libraries will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26 and will reopen at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 29. The Broad Rock Library is open on Sundays, and will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 30. Richmond Animal Care and Control will also be closed on November 27. The shelter will open on November 28 to assist residents who find stray animals or who are looking for missing pets. Current volunteers are welcome at the shelter between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. during this time period to socialize with shelter animals. The shel

~Event to include family activities, health screenings and health and wellness information~ The public is invited to the Richmond City Community Schools initiative Kickoff this Saturday, November 22 from 11a.m. to 3p.m. at the Bellemeade Community Center, 1800 Lynhaven Avenue. Mayor Dwight C. Jones will begin the event by officially announcing the initiative, which is a major collaboration between the City, Richmond Public Schools and community partners. Community Schools serve as community “hubs” designed to promote academic achievement, personal wellness, and holistic family and community stability through coordinated partnerships. The Richmond City Community Schools initiative is an outgrowth of the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Policy. Mayor Jones will be joined in launching the initiative by Richmond Public School Board Member, Dr. Derik Jones and Richmond Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Dana Bedden. Saturday’s kickoff event will be filled with a variety of family

The City of Richmond and Radio One Annual Toy Drive has begun! Donations of new, unwrapped toys, books and clothing are being accepted at any City fire station, the Department of Social Services Marshall Street Plaza (900 East Marshall Street), Southside Community Services Center (4100 Hull Street Road), East District Initiative (701 North 25th Street), and at City Hall (900 East Broad Street) until 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 11. All Radio One Richmond DJ’s will broadcast live from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on December 9, 10, and 11 to “PACK THE PODS” with donations of new unwrapped toys targeting children ages newborn to Age 13 at the Walmart Supercenter, 2410 Sheila Lane. On behalf of Richmond area Lowes Stores, Richmond store General Manager Michael Sida has already committed to donating 75 new bicycles for the toy distribution. Other drop off locations will be announced on iPower92.1FM; Praise104.7FM; and KISS-FM 99.3/105.7FM. Donations will be distributed to children in need within the

The City will begin installing approximately 40 new parking pay stations, to include 12 to 14 more in the VCU area in late November. The locations for the pay stations near VCU are: 600 and 700 blocks of West Franklin Street 600 and 700 blocks of West Main Street 300 through 500 blocks of West Franklin Street The new stations, near the campus, are being placed in areas where there are no parking meters and on-street parking is time-regulated with a two-hour limit.   The City began replacing parking meters with pay stations in the Central Business District in 2012. To date, approximately 125 parking stations have been installed.   It costs 75 cents per hour to park at a pay station. The meters accept credit cards, debit cards, cash and coins. The machines dispense a receipt that must be placed on the dashboard and is visible from the windshield.   To learn more about City services and programs, please visit www.RichmondGov.com .

The City’s Office of Emergency Management, the City’s Fire Department along with Henrico County’s Division of Fire and Office of Emergency Management are partnering with Amtrak for a hands-on training that will demonstrate to first responders how to properly size-up and manage an incident involving Amtrak equipment. The two training sessions will take place at the Staples Mill Amtrak Station, 7519 Staples Mill Road, on Friday, November 7 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Media is invited to attend and watch the training for either session. “Emergencies on the railway do not happen very often. However, it is important that we train with external partners, like Amtrak, to learn these incident-specific skills, so in the event that an emergency does occur, we are prepared to respond and assist those residents in need,” said Steven Pyle, Emergency Management Planner for the City of Richmond Office of Emergency Management. Prior to the hands-on training on Friday, public safety p

The city of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) announced today a 20 percent reduction in the purchased gas cost (PGC) rate charged by (DPU).  This decrease comes as a result of improved price projections and increases in natural gas usage over the summer. Mayor Dwight Jones stated that, “By law, the city passes along the cost of the natural gas it purchases and delivers to its customers, dollar for dollar without any markup.  As we enter the heating season, I’m pleased that we are in a position to announce this 20 percent reduction in the cost. The city will continue to review and adjust the gas costs on a quarterly basis to reflect the price that DPU pays for natural gas.” Beginning with the first natural gas bill received in November 2014, the PGC will decrease from $0.815 to $0.650 per Ccf (100 cubic feet of natural gas).  As a result, the average residential customer who uses 70 Ccf per month will pay approximately $91.99 compared to a current bill of $103.54, an 11 per

~ Project completion targeted for the end of 2014 ~ Work is beginning in October for the remediation and improvement of historic Ancarrow’s Landing, a key part of the James River Park System. These efforts, first announced in May of this year, are being conducted through an agreement with ExxonMobil Oil Corporation, a successor company through merger to Virginia Carolina Chemical Corporation (VCC) the entity which occupied the site from the 1920s through the early 1960s. ExxonMobil voluntarily committed to the site’s cleanup and improvement efforts through the Voluntary Remediation Program by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) in 2010, a program encouraging hazardous substance cleanups that might otherwise not take place. The Ancarrow’s Landing and historic Manchester Docks have long been thought to have excellent potential for Riverfront attractions and greater public use. The location, lack of through traffic, and limited flood protection had largely slowed e

~ City Administration begins development of guidelines for implementation ~ The City of Richmond achieved another milestone toward becoming a bike and pedestrian friendly city by adopting a Complete Streets Policy on October 13. Complete Streets is a transportation policy and design approach that helps make communities healthier, more livable, economically competitive and resilient. They are streets designed and operated to be safe, comfortable and convenient for all users regardless of age, ability or mode of travel. Adopting a Complete Streets Policy was a recommendation of the Mayor’s Pedestrian, Bicycling and Trails Commission, the City’s RVAgreen Sustainability Plan, Richmond Connects and the Green City Commission. The Policy outlines the design and construction standards for sidewalks, public ways and public rights-of-way and requires that City transportation improvement projects provide appropriate accommodations to promote safe usage for all users. “The goal of the Complet

Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced that several vacancies created in the city administration’s leadership were filled with interim appointments utilizing existing personnel. The following appointments were made: James A. Jackson , Director of the Department of Public Works since February of 2011, has been appointed to serve as Interim Deputy Chief Administration Officer (DCAO) for Operations. Jackson will serve in that capacity to fill the vacancy created by Christopher Beschler being named Acting Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Emmanuel Adediran , Deputy Director/General Services, has been appointed to serve as Interim Director of Public Works. Lee Downey , Director of Economic Development since April of 2011, has been appointed to serve as Interim Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Economic and Community Development. Downey will serve in that capacity to fill the vacancy created by the departure of Peter Chapman. Douglas Dunlap , Deputy Director for Planning and Develop

The City of Richmond would like to congratulate Rappahannock Restaurant for being named one of Esquire magazine’s 12 best new restaurants in the country as part of the publication’s 2014 Food and Drinks Awards. The City would also like to recognize Sub Rosa Bakery in Church Hill as it was mentioned in an article touting Virginia as the Food Region of 2014 . These acknowledgements are one of several national acknowledgements and recognitions restaurants in the City of Richmond have received in recent months. The City’s Department of Economic and Community Development assisted both Rappahannock Restaurant and Sub Rosa Bakery by providing gap financing loans. The City has a variety of incentives and financial tools to assist businesses with their growth as they stimulate the revitalization of Richmond’s neighborhoods and promote permanent job creation for low and moderate income residents. Please call (804) 646-5633 or visit www.YesRichmondVA.com for more information on the City’s ince

~Measure would establish $2 million reserve fund for short term~ Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced today that he intends to introduce an ordinance to establish a reserve fund for maintenance needs of Richmond Public Schools (RPS). The plan is designed to capture anticipated surplus funds that will result if City Council decides against rolling back the tax rate. “While it was my desire to see us, as a government, offer the first reduction in the city’s real estate tax rate since 2007, it seems the will of the many is headed in a different direction and it is unlikely that City Council will approve the reduced rate,” said Mayor Jones. “I agree that the city has many needs that the additional funds can be directed toward, and I am suggesting that we initially establish a reserve fund for maintenance needs of Richmond Public Schools.” RPS was allocated over $7 million in funds for FY2015 for school maintenance needs. Mayor Jones requested a status report on spending and learned that RPS

~Company to invest $74 million and create a minimum of 288 new jobs~ Richmond, VA – Mayor Dwight C. Jones joined Governor Terry McAuliffe today in announcing that Stone Brewing Co., the 10th largest craft brewer in the United States, has chosen Richmond as the preferred location for the establishment of an east coast operation. “We are thrilled about Stone's decision to choose Richmond as its East Coast production and distribution facility location,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “After competing with more than 20 other states, we are so pleased that Stone has discovered those attributes that make Richmond a great place to do business. The fact that they have chosen a site in the Greater Fulton Community underscores their understanding of the rich history and natural assets that we have to offer. As they bring their unique craft beer and visionary business model here, I look forward to the many opportunities that lay ahead with Stone.” Mayor Jones thanked his economic development te

Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced that he has accepted the resignation of Peter Chapman, the City’s Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Economic and Community Development. Chapman has accepted the role of Deputy City Manager for Economic Development and Housing for the City of Norfolk. “Peter has been a strong member of Richmond’s leadership team for more than five years,” Jones said. “He has spearheaded the transformation of Richmond’s East End, creation of the Arts District to spur development downtown, and repositioning the historic Main Street Station for next-generation rehabilitation and development.” “Peter is pursuing a great professional opportunity, and we wish him all the best,” Jones said.

Mayor Dwight C. Jones issued the following comment today regarding speculation about a free-standing children’s hospital in Richmond: “Our region would be well-served by a free-standing, independently operated children’s hospital. The city of Richmond certainly would do everything we can to gain the opportunity to house such a facility within the city, where it can be easily accessible to all. This discussion stands on its own, and we anticipate that a decision about a children’s hospital location will be made independent of other issues, including the ballpark.”

Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced that he has accepted the resignation of Byron Marshall. Marshall resigned from his position as chief administrative officer (CAO) after having served over five years in the top operations position. “Mr. Marshall has served in the position of CAO longer than most would have had an opportunity to do so, as a result of my being elected to a second term,” said Jones. “We are grateful to have had his service for more than five years, and we wish him well in his future endeavors. The city has benefited in many ways during his tenure.” Christopher Beschler, deputy chief administrative officer for operations, has been named as interim CAO by Jones. Beschler has served in this capacity previously and is seen as amply-qualified to manage city operations during the transition period. “Along with Chris, we have a capable team in place – many of whom have been with me since the beginning – and we are anticipating moving forward without interruption.”

Mayor Dwight C. Jones invites the public to join in a Day of Service and Remembrance on Thursday, September 11, 2014 in recognition of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The event will be held outside of Marshall Plaza at 900 East Marshall Street. The formal event will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the ringing of bells, color guard and moment of silence. One of the youngest first-responders at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, Evandra Thompson will be the event’s keynote speaker. Additionally, United States Army Brigadier General Jack Haley, 38th Chief of Ordnance at Fort Lee will also bring remarks regarding preparedness. Following the formal event, there will be an opportunity to learn more about emergency preparedness with the City’s Office of Emergency Management and to tour the City’s Mobile Command Post. The Richmond Fire Department will review fire safety in the home with the use of the City’s mobile Fire Safety House. The Richmond Ambulance Authority will provide Hands-Only

~Funding options for schools is focus of finance experts~ Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced that the following individuals have agreed to serve as part of a working group reviewing financing options for school needs: Matt Grossman                 CFO, Health & Beauty Group, MeadWestvaco Jeff Hemp                         CFO, Philip Morris USA & Director, Altria Client Services Scott Hetzer                      SVP & Treasurer, Dominion Resources Inc. Alma Showalter                VP of Tax, Dominion Resources Inc. “I am grateful to these companies for their willingness to lend us these valuable human resources,” said Mayor Jones. “I’m asking that this group undertake an aggressive review schedule of financing options for schools needs, as I’m eager to chart a course of direction that will ultimately strengthen our school district.” On August 18, 2014, Mayor Jones outlined a number of financing options the City could explore to support schools. These include: a)    The u

In just 15 days, Richmond’s children will be heading back to classrooms all across the city, and I wanted to take this time to address the funding needs that we’ve all heard about of late with respect to school facilities. Education has been a priority for me since I took office, and it remains a priority.  I believe that the investment we, as a city, make in our children is the best investment we can make. That’s why I’ve pushed for and built new schools, representing over $170 million dollars in investment – am building the first new high school in 40 years – and have increased the schools maintenance budget by nearly 700%. We’ve reduced capital funding in other areas to help with school needs. I’m encouraged that we also have a Governor that wants to increase the focus on the education and general welfare of youth through 21 years of age. Last week, our Governor established a Children’s Cabinet.  The initiative, in part, is meant to address students in high poverty, low-achieving s

~Scheduling changes are effective August 24, 2014~ The following routes will have significant schedule changes .      Routes: 11, 43, 62, 101      New Route: 21 Brook Azalea      Discontinued Routes: 22 and 67      Routes 24, 44, 45 and 72-73 will have Transfer Plaza Bay changes. Routes that serve the Temporary Transfer Plaza may have minor schedule changes.  Please check the new printed public timetables/schedules available closer to August 24. Look for new individual route schedules on ridegrtc.com , closer to August 24, 2014, or call the Customer Service Center at 804-358-GRTC (4782).

The City of Richmond is partnering with CultureWorks, the Cameron Foundation and City of Petersburg to conduct a major online survey of artists, individuals involved with arts organizations and creative businesses in the region to determine the feasibility of creating one or more multi-use arts facilities. The survey will conclude on September 5, 2014. This effort represents a collaboration of multiple partners, including The Cameron Foundation, Artspace Projects, CultureWorks, and the cities of Richmond and Petersburg. Artspace Projects, the nation’s leading developer for the arts, will use the survey to identify the types and number of spaces needed by those who are part of the area’s creative economy. The results of the survey will help Artspace Projects determine the size of the market in Richmond and Petersburg region for affordable live/work housing, studio and public space of various kinds. The survey is the second phase of a scope of work that began last year when an Artspace

The City of Richmond recently received recognition for being a national leader in overall small business friendliness. Finishing as the 10th best city, Richmond earned an A grade for its small business friendly policies and earned an A+ for the friendliness of its licensing rules. “Receiving this honor acknowledges the City’s continued efforts to provide quality resources to our local businesses,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “Helping entrepreneurs and local businesses grow and thrive is central to the City’s anti-poverty strategy. By being a ‘business-friendly’ city, we are also creating local jobs and advancing our neighborhood revitalization efforts.”  Thumbtack, a consumer service headquartered in San Francisco, partnered with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to conduct a survey of more than 12,000 small businesses nationwide. The Thumbtack.com Small Business Friendliness Survey is the largest survey of its kind and is the only survey to obtain data from an extensive,

Richmond, VA – Mayor Dwight C. Jones issued the following statement in respect to the passing of Richmond Free Press founder, publisher and editor Raymond H. Boone, Sr.: “The passing of Ray Boone really marks the end of a personality who was an integral part of our city. His stalwart support for the black community, for economic justice and fairness paved the way for change in so many ways. As Founder/Editor/Publisher of the Richmond Free Press, week after week, he offered many a window into the world of black Richmond. He provided visibility for people who might otherwise be invisible to some. He voiced concerns and desires in ways that might not otherwise have gotten expressed. When I think of Ray, the word that comes to mind for me is ‘crusader.’ It’s clear to me that Ray Boone was a giant of a personality that won’t soon be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this time of loss.”

Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Richmond Police Chief Ray Tarasovic addressed media today regarding recent incidents of crimes involving children. The following are Mayor Jones’ remarks as prepared for delivery for today’s press briefing. Thank you for joining me here this morning. I wish we could be meeting under better circumstances, but I’m here with Police Chief Tarasovic to talk about some of the challenges we’ve been facing recently. As Mayor, one of the standards I’ve set is for prompt notification – no matter what time of day or night – when there is a major crime incident in the city and incidents involving children. Over time, I’ve taken calls from our chief at 1:00 a.m. in the morning, 4:00 a.m. in the morning, and at various other times. It’s horrible when I receive the calls that a tragedy has occurred somewhere in our city. The only thing worse is the Police Chief having to make the call to report in on something tragic that has sadly occurred. Today, I feel that I’ve been get

Mayor Jones issued the following statement concerning the anticipated vote on the Shockoe Bottom Development Ordinance:   “I was disappointed to read in the news media that certain Council members plan to vote against new jobs, tax revenue, and a Slavery Heritage site in Richmond. Doing that would hurt Richmond by leaving money on the table.   “That’s because keeping the ballpark on the Boulevard would restrict the revenue-producing potential of our most valuable piece of under-utilized land. That’s a bad business decision, and it demonstrates a failure to consider the needs of the city as a whole.   “This decision is surprising since they’ve chosen to vote against something without learning about it first. At no point have all City Council members been briefed on the most up-to-date information about all aspects of the plan. Council members are receiving the detailed information they requested, but most briefings have taken place in committee meetings or in lightly-attended inform

Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced the appointments of Norman D. Butts as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Finance and Debra D. Gardner as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services. Norman Butts , previously Director of Finance for the Town of Leesburg, will begin his tenure with the City on June 23. Butts is a lawyer, accountant, educator, public administrator, and a former elected official. He has been an Inspector General, Auditor, Chief Finance Officer, Debt Manager, and a City Manager. His decade of service as Director of Finance for the Town of Leesburg has positioned Leesburg for a Triple A bond rating, up from an A1 standing when he started. His career includes being named the first Inspector General for Montgomery County, Maryland, one of the most diverse and complex jurisdictions in America. He was also an auditor in Concord, New Hampshire, where he served three terms on the City Council. In that elected office, he served as a member of the fiscal po