Christiansburg's Mayor surely knew exiting Lance Terpenny had another job option, and so a multi-year contract was suddenly inserted onto Town Council's agenda as a means to negotiate and retain him. But that's not how he tried to manage or portray this to his constituents or peers.
Certain Town Council members were apparently aware, others were not. A typical pattern from the good ol' club?
Therefore, Mike Barber's motion stating Council had a "lack of faith" in Terpenny was misleading if he was aware the contract represented negotiations to retain him.
A resignation does not warrant any severance package. Period. The Town's Attorney should be replaced if a successful challenge opposing this gross disservice to Christiansburg taxpayers is not forthcoming.
Terpenny made an employment choice, yet Council is allowing Christiansburg taxpayers to bear the costs. Let's not even get into the urban flooding, deficit budget, outdated Town Code and Charter, pathetic website or lack of a community pool and applicable Comprehensive Plan. Yet for all those "successes" he is now being rewarded.
Beyond the voting booth, where a paltry percent of registered voters have historically bothered to engage and even fewer citizens have any awareness of these costly blunders for fear of being harassed in or outside of public meetings -- what's a citizen to do?
Floyd had so much going for it recently. Hopefully this trend will now be maintained, while Christiansburg struggles with economic investment (farmer's market, viable commercial districts, affordable tax rates and decent infrastructure).