Purcellville, Va. – The Town of Purcellville is currently in the process of scheduling its upcoming strategic planning session, striving to find a date that all members can attend. During their regular “Mayor Plus One Council Member Meeting,” which rotates among council members, Mayor Christopher Bertaut, Council Member Caleb Stought, and Interim Town Manager Fraser Kwasi have been discussing potential dates.
The proposed options included July 19th, August 23rd, and possible dates in September. However, conflicts arose: Council Member Erin Rayner will be out of town on July 19th, and Council Members Kevin Wright and Caleb Stought have commitments to attend the town’s Food & Wine Festival. Despite these conflicts, Mayor Bertaut has chosen to support the July 19th date to maintain the strategic planning timeline.
Council Member Caleb Stought raised concerns about the selected date, highlighting that it conflicts with the availability of all minority council members and stressing the importance of full participation for diverse input and collaborative decision-making. Stought stated, “It’s important for the participation, input, or opinions of all council members to be considered when scheduling such sessions.”
Additionally, the July 19th date coincides with a significant town event, prompting further discussion about ensuring maximum attendance. With the last strategic session held on December 2, 2023, and no urgent issues pending, some members believe that delaying the session until late August or early September would not negatively impact the planning process. Options considered included holding one comprehensive session with full attendance or dividing it into two parts to accommodate those with scheduling conflicts.
These discussions have highlighted differing priorities regarding council duties and personal commitments, as well as varying views on the importance of in-person participation. The debate underscores the need for effective communication and collaboration to reach a consensus on the session’s scheduling.
The strategic planning session is now scheduled for July 19th, from 8 AM to 3 PM. This date was selected by the mayor despite prior notice from Council Members Erin Rayner, Caleb Stought, and Kevin Wright that they would be unable to attend due to the Food & Wine Festival and other obligations. Additionally, the town has contracted a consultant, as referenced in the ICMA’s Strategic Planning Manual, for $5,000 to facilitate this session, which will proceed without the presence of the three council members.