A rumor going around Christians-burg (as the Roanoke Times likes to call it), says there is another petition circulating.
Not like the one last May put before registered town voters, which garnered enough signatures to ensure a referendum will be placed on the ballot for Christiansburg residents to decide this November.
That referendum will ask: Shall the town of Christiansburg change the election date of the mayor and members of town council from the May general to the November general election in odd numbered years, beginning with a change in the scheduled May 2012 election to November 2011?
This action followed Christiansburg Town Council discussing such a change, as in a neighboring 'burg (which has 10 candidates running for office this November). In Virginia, having a local referendum is a rather rare situation, but after Council talked the matter to death and decided to do nothing, citizens stepped in.
Nor is the rumored petition for this-or-that bike path or against this-or-that proposed new high density development. It isn't about making changes in the town's planning practices and processes, to minimize or alleviate current or future urban flooding issues.
The petition we were told about -- but haven't seen -- was demanding the ouster of the current Town Manager, a non-renewal of his contract.
It is true the Town Council has an annual organizational meeting each September, and it is true the Town Manager, Treasurer and Police Chief serve "at the pleasure" of Council.
It's unclear whether any of these three positions also provide for an employment contract -- but it's been said these don't exist as the Town Manager serves "at the pleasure" of Council. One should remember FOIA requests can be verbal, and don't have to be written, so it's presumed this is true and so no "contract" renewal is coming up. Citizens should also remember the Treasurer and Police Chief don't report directly to Council and instead this is done through their "real boss" (who is the Town Manager).
It's also not clear if all town employees have an annual performance review, or whether these are all done at one time or at the anniversary of a hiring date. There are some who say there's never been a performance review -- by Council -- for the Town Manager; yet the incumbent's long tenure indicates otherwise.
If there is indeed such a petition circulating in Christiansburg, all residents should know about it. What does it say, specifically? Why is it circulating now, and who is the individual or group behind it?
And where can it be found? There's several dozen people we've been contacted by who say they've heard of it and would like to sign it -- with their own blood.