The August 17 Christiansburg Town Council meeting had a full agenda, along with marking the conclusion of the terms of members Ann Carter and Ernie Wade.
Their exit speeches were markedly different when addressing "change", although both thanked the citizens for the honor of being chosen to serve and acknowledged their peers and town staff.
Ernie Wade said he enjoyed his five years of service on Town Council (he also served as an appointee to the Planning Commission for 19 years). At the very end of this video, Wade said he had hoped to make a difference while acknowledging he would have liked to have seen more accomplished. He stated Christiansburg was a great place to live but had a "few problems that need tweaking," yet didn't need "major change."
Some major change did occur during his tenure, including the first ever Council Work Sessions for preparing the budget, getting meeting agendas out to the public in compliance with FOIA, and shifting from having Joint Public Hearings with Council and the Planning Commission vote on rezonings the same night (following inconvenient recesses).
Ann Carter, who did not seek reelection, spoke to all the change Christiansburg had experienced during her 21 years on Council. Her retrovision actually encompassed 66 years, as it included perspective she gained from when both her father and late husband also served the town. Carter listed several positive improvements -- or changes -- future Town Councils should address.
She suggested a focus on the budget process, giving special emphasis to planning practices. She urged immediate updating and adherence to the Town Charter, Town Code and Comprehensive Plan -- the legislative documents that are supposed to guide Christiansburg but have been allowed to become grossly outdated by Council, their appointed attorney, and staff.
These two Council members -- through their own statements and/or actions -- perhaps suggested a new town motto for Christiansburg: Trust but verify. Each deserve the heartfelt thanks of residents regardless of whether you agreed with every vote they cast on your behalf or not.
Too often such public service is a thankless job. Many will gripe but few stand up and get onto the ballot or regularly attend meetings. Historically in Christiansburg a majority of registered voters haven't bothered to go to the polls, and that's something which also needs to change.
Winners from the May 2010 Town Council elections will be sworn into office and begin serving in September. This includes the reappointment of Richard Ballengee as Mayor, Steve Huppert (returning after losing a reelection bid in 2008 and serving on the Planning Commission in the meantime), and newcomer Cord Hall.
Christiansburg has indeed experienced a lot of change (accomplished or in process of being polished). Massive change has occurred recently and over the past quarter century. What it looks like in 10 or 20 years shouldn't be tied solely to Council's Vision 2020, rather to the Town's Comprehensive Plan. Every generation and citizen has a vested interest in where this continuing change leads.