Roanoke City Council

Council to decide City Manager Burcham's future

meg martin — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:01:26 GMT

Members of the Roanoke City Council confirmed Thursday that they have been actively discussing City Manager Darlene Burcham's future and could come to a decision as early as Monday during the next council meeting. [related story]

The council is scheduled to hold a closed session to conduct Burcham's annual performance review. Three council members, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that as of Thursday afternoon a council majority was prepared to set a date for Burcham to leave city hall -- probably by this fall.

UPDATE (01-June-09): Burcham will retire in March.The decision was made for her by Roanoke City Council members, who on Monday made the announcement after a lengthy closed-door meeting. Council members acknowledged last week that they were considering a fall date for the end to her tenure. [story]

How would you rate Burcham's performance so far? What do you think about the ending of her tenure?

Does prayer have a place in government meetings?

meg martin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:40:55 GMT

Governmental prayers have been a hot-button issue this year. In July, a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's decision that Hashmel Turner, a Baptist minister and member of the Fredericksburg City Council, did not have a right to say a sectarian prayer to open council meetings. Lawyers for Turner are now trying to get the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case. [Related story.]

Roanoke Vice Mayor Sherman Lea sparked criticism when he referred to Jesus Christ during a prayer that opened a council meeting on Dec. 15. Lea's invocation raised the ire of at least one person who, in an e-mail to council members, called the prayer "illegal and offensive to the many religions in Roanoke City." Lea, who is also a minister, then asked to be removed from a rotation of clergy used to give the opening prayer at council meetings.

The issue has also been raised in the most recent General Assembly session, as well.

What is the place of prayer in government meetings?

Join the discussion here.

Mayor, council in stormy waters

meg martin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:32:40 GMT

Friction appears to be growing over Mayor Bowers' role, perks and expectations among the members of the Roanoke City Council.

From today's story:

In July, Roanoke Mayor David Bowers and a newly seated city council pledged to work together and avoid the polarized politics that had characterized previous terms. [...]

This week, Bowers walked out of a closed meeting with other council members, frustrated with what he sees as a pattern of disrespect to the mayor's office. Nearly one year into this mayoral term, tensions are evident and other council members are just as frustrated with Bowers.

What's your take on this latest development in the relationship between the mayor and city council?

City council's 2009 budget proposals

meg martin — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:15:37 GMT

Roanoke City Council is scheduled to discuss its proposed budget at a public hearing Monday, April 20.

What's your take on the city's budget? What would you change, if given the opportunity? What would you suggest?

Filling Alvin Nash's city council seat

meg martin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:55:24 GMT

What do you think about Roanoke City Council's plans to fill the seat vacated by Alvin Nash?

Prayer in City Council meetings

meg martin — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:56:00 GMT

What do you think about Vice Mayor Sherman Lea’s decision to refrain from leading the city council invocation because of a complaint about referring to God's son?

Prayer in City Council meetings

fallenstar — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 03:04:39 GMT

This is really crazy! Prayers have been conducted for the meetings for years and now someone has a problem with invoking the name of Jesus or Gods son in the prayers. Come on Roanoke, get it together. Each of us may pray or have a difference in beliefs, but a prayer by a different denomination during each meeting just may satisfy this dilemma. For the person or person's that may find this to be a problem, Then I will pray for you to my God. I hope that everyone does.