Notice of Special Called Meeting on 12-28-15

The Town Council of Abingdon has received several inquiries regarding the Special Called Meeting on December 28, 2015.

            On December 28, 2015 at 8:00 a.m. the Town Council will hold a public hearing to consider the purchase of 40.74 acres of land by the Town of Abingdon from CEMA Corporation.  The proposed property is being considered for the placement of a sports complex.  The Mayor will declare the public hearing open and each person wishing to speak will be able to do so for 3 minutes. Comments will be limited to the proposed purchase only. There will be a sign up sheet for those who wish to comment and it will be available on the morning of the meeting starting at 7:30 a.m.   This property is currently zoned AFOS (agriculture, forestal and open space) and is not subject to rezoning if the purchase is successful. 

The meeting time has been changed to 8 a.m. for several reasons:

            - The deadline for the town to complete this purchase is December 31, 2015.

            -   The Council members and necessary Town staff are limited to dates and times because of the Christmas and New Year holidays and the individual work schedules of each member. 

            - The Town has a history of holding special called meetings in the early morning hours to allow time during the business day to complete transactions during working hours. 

The date and time of the meeting was advertised in accordance with the Code of Virginia and the Code of the Town of Abingdon (see below) so that the public could attend accordingly.  

 Special Called Meeting, Code of Virginia, § 15.2-1418:

A special meeting of the governing body shall be held when called by the chairman or mayor or requested by two or more of the members of the board of supervisors or council. The call or request shall be made to the clerk, and shall specify the matters to be considered at the meeting. Upon receipt of such call or request, the clerk of the governing body, after consultation with the chairman or mayor, shall immediately notify each member of the governing body and the attorney for the Commonwealth or the county or municipal attorney, as appropriate in writing delivered in person or to his place of residence or business or, if so requested by the member of the governing body, by electronic mail or facsimile to attend such meeting at the time and place stated in the notice. Such notice shall specify the matters to be considered at the meeting. No matter not specified in the notice shall be considered at such meeting, unless all members are present. The notice may be waived if all members of the governing body attend the special meeting or sign a waiver.

Meetings of Council - Code of the Town of Abingdon, Virginia; Chapter 1 - Incorporation, Form of Government and Boundaries; Chapter 3 - Council, Sec. 3.6 Meetings of Council

Special meetings may be called at any time by the mayor, by any three members of the council or by the town manager; provided that the members of the council are given reasonable notice of such meetings, and no business shall be transacted at a special meeting thereof except that for which it shall be called. If all members are present, this provision may be waived by a majority vote of the council. No ordinance, resolution, motion or vote shall be adopted by the council unless it shall have received the affirmative votes of a majority of the members present.

Please contact the Town Manager’s Office at 276-628-3167 if you have questions. Copies of all documents related to this proposed transaction are available for inspection in the office of the Town Manager.