Meg Hibbert
Contributing writer
Ten people have applied to fill out a year of the late John Saunders’ Salem City Council seat.
Mayor Renee Turk read the names at Monday night’s Council meeting. The two women and eight men are: Lisa Garst and Jane Johnson, William Breedlove Jr., Ryan Dodson, Joe Foley, Eric Hart, Claude Henson, James Martin, Joe Mills and David Preston.
At the end of the meeting, the four Council members, Counsel Haskell Brown and other staff went into a closed session to discuss prospective candidates for the interim appointment. The mayor said no action was expected that night.
When he died in August, longtime Salem supporter Saunders had two years left on his term.
The appointee would serve through December 2027. A special election to fill the remaining year would be held in November of that year.
During the Aug. 24 work session before that night’s meeting, City Attorney Jim Guynn went over the process for filling the vacancy. Council has 45 days to make the appointment or it will go to a circuit court judge to appoint.
In other matters before Council at the Sept. 14 meeting, Mayor Turk read a resolution proclaiming Sept. 17-24 Constitution Week. She presented it to Cynthia McKinney, District VII Vice Director and Honorary Chapter Regent and Recording Secretary of the Fort Lewis Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. McKinney, who is also the chapter’s recording secretary, was accompanied by eight members and Knight, member Seyward McKinney’s service dog.
Turk mentioned a long list of activities the DAR chapter has accomplished in the last year, including:
* Annual ringing of the bell this year on Sept. 17, Constitution Day, sending greeting cards to veterans at the Salem VA Center, and presenting copies of the U.S. Constitution and 50 gift bags to fourth grade students at Fort Lewis Elementary School.
During the Citizen Comments portion of the meeting, Council heard:
* Nora Smith who asked Council to consider increasing the number of members from five to seven. Similar size cities and even Richlands, which has a population of 5,000, have more seats, Smith said;
* Cynthia Munley who proposed a HART Art Academy on the grounds of HopeTree Family Services in order to provide afterschool activities for Salem young people. HART stands for Hilltop Academy for Restorative Training. Munley said kids need to get outside into nature and away from digital screens;
* John said Salem’s charter is outdated and asked for citizen committees to review the charter. Any change would have to be approved by the General Assembly, he noted. Before that night’s meeting, at the work session, Council attorney Haskell Brown had briefed Council on suggested revisions;
* Page Hunsaker asked Council to have its road crews, as she has asked Virginia Department of Transportation crews, to scan for microchips any dead pets found on the side of the road. She said her family has been searching for their dog since July. She recently learned a dog’s body was recovered on I-81 and buried in the landfill, but not scanned for a microchip.
Council also held public hearings on:
* The School Board vacancy that will expire Dec. 31. Current School Board Member Macel Janoschka spoke, saying she wants to be appointed for another term;
* A request by Terry Properties of VA Inc. for a special exception to allow a duplex at 432 Chestnut Street. The motion carried. This was a first hearing;
* Minor signs (such as election signs) on city property during voting;
* Approved donating a surplus 2006 Chevrolet truck from the Police Department to the Shield Chaplaincy program.
The regular portion of the meeting ended at 7:17 p.m., before the closed session at which no action was expected.
