Joe Short, Vice Mayor, Town of Culpeper

09/07/2026

KNOW YOUR TOWN GOVERNMENT | Council-Manager Government

In the first two installments of this series, we looked at the Culpeper Town Charter, which establishes our form of government, and Town Ordinances, which are the local laws adopted under that authority.

That brings us to the next topic: Who actually runs the Town?

Culpeper operates under a council-manager form of government. This structure divides responsibility between the elected Town Council and a professional Town Manager.

Unlike a mayor-council (sometimes referred as “strong mayor”) form, in which an elected mayor exercises significant administrative authority, Culpeper’s Charter places that responsibility with an appointed professional Town Manager. Our Mayor remains part of the elected governing body, while the Town Manager oversees the Town’s daily administration under the direction and accountability of the full Council.

Citizens elect the Mayor and eight Council members, and all nine select the Vice Mayor. Together, the nine-member Council serves as the Town’s governing body. Council’s responsibilities include:

-- Establishing Town policies and priorities
-- Adopting ordinances
-- Approving the annual budget, tax rates, fees and utility rates
-- Making decisions about land use and major public investments
-- Appointing the Town Manager, Town Attorney and Town Clerk

The Town Manager serves as the Town’s chief administrative officer. The Manager carries out the policies established by Council, administers Town programs, prepares recommendations for Council’s consideration and oversees the Town’s departments and employees.

A useful way to understand the distinction is this:

Council determines what the Town should accomplish. The Town Manager and staff determine how to carry out that direction through the Town’s daily operations.

This division of responsibilities is important. Council members are accountable to the citizens through elections, while the Town Manager provides professional administration and organizational continuity and is held accountable by Council. It also means that individual Council members do not independently establish Town policy or manage Town employees. Council exercises its governing authority collectively through decisions made during public meetings.

That does not mean Council members are disconnected from daily concerns. We listen to citizens, ask questions, research topics, identify policy issues and help connect residents with the appropriate Town staff. However, concerns involving the delivery of a Town service are normally handled through the Town Manager and the responsible department rather than through an individual Council member directing an employee.

When the relationship works properly, elected officials set the direction, professional staff carries out that direction, and both remain accountable for serving the public well.

In the next installment, we will look more closely at the roles of the Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council members, including what authority each position does and does not have.

Learn more:

Town Council:
https://www.culpeperva.gov/government/mayor_and_council/index.php

Town Manager:
https://www.culpeperva.gov/government/town_manager.php

International City/County Management Association's Council-Manager resources:
https://icma.org/page/council-manager-form-government-resources

KNOW YOUR TOWN GOVERNMENT | SERIES GUIDE

-- 1 of 10: The Culpeper Town Charter
-- 2 of 10: Town Ordinances
-- 3 of 10: Council-Manager Government | YOU ARE HERE
-- 4 of 10: Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council Members | NEXT
-- 5 of 10: From Agenda to Action
-- 6 of 10: Council Committees
-- 7 of 10: Town Staff and Departments
-- 8 of 10: Authorities, Boards and Commissions
-- 9 of 10: Town or County: Who Does What?
-- 10 of 10: The Dillon Rule

HomeGovernmentMayor and Council Mayor and Council The nine-member council is composed of a Mayor and eight Council Members elected at-large to four-year terms.The Mayor and Council appoint a Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Town Clerk: The Town Manager is the chief administrative officer of the mu...

09/02/2026

With summer temperatures soaring this week, it seems like the perfect time to talk about… CHRISTMAS!!!

Preparations are already underway for the 2026 Culpeper Christmas Parade. Save the date: 5pm on Sunday, 6 December. Details to be announced.

Stay cool....and stay tuned!

08/31/2026

AT-A-GLANCE: A new state law prevents public bodies such as Town Council from adding and then taking final action on an agenda item during the same meeting unless the matter is time-sensitive.

DETAILS: Effective 1 July 2026, Virginia Senate Bill 699 (SB699) changed what public bodies such as town councils, boards of supervisors and school boards can do when an item is added to an agenda after a meeting begins.

Previously, a governing body could amend its agenda during a meeting and then take a final vote on that newly added matter during the same meeting. Citizens who relied on the published agenda might never know the matter was coming before the body until after the decision was made. At best this reflects poor planning, and at worst, this practice can be abused and lead to “legislating from the dais”, a bad practice of intentionally rushing a controversial matter through a final vote without giving citizens a chance to become informed.

In the Town of Culpeper, many issues initially surface through one of the Town’s authorities, boards or commissions (ABCs), and Town Code directs regular Council agenda items first through one of Council’s four committees. This allows an issue to mature through public discussion, staff analysis and committee review. The Mayor, Town Manager and Town Clerk then prepare the agenda for Council’s regular monthly meeting.

Under SB699, a governing body can still add and discuss a topic during an active meeting, but it cannot take a final vote on that matter during the same meeting unless it is "time-sensitive".

Town staff went a step further and recommended, with Council's approval, that only the Town Manager can place a time-sensitive matter on a proposed Council agenda without waiting for the normal committee process. This helps preserve advance public notice while also reducing the risk of last-minute additions driven by individual political priorities: the public agenda is protected from a personal or partisan agenda.

Note: SB699 doesn't define “time-sensitive", but examples could include an immediate public-safety threat, critical infrastructure failure, natural disaster or an unavoidable legal, contractual or grant deadline. Council must retain the ability to respond when a matter truly can't wait. At the same time, consequential decisions shouldn't be made by surprise when advance notice could reasonably have been provided to the general public!

Let me know if you have questions.

LEARN MORE:

-- VA Code governing public meetings:
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title2.2/chapter37/section2.2-3707/

-- Town Council's proposed adoption:
https://culpeperva-gov.community.highbond.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=2862

-- Notice to the ABCs:
https://culpeperva-gov.community.highbond.com/document/9bc8f01e-ba57-4bcb-8176-e0e8b873f7a9/

Table of Contents » Title 2.2. Administration of Government » Subtitle II. Administration of State Government » Part B. Transaction of Public Business » Chapter 37. Virginia Freedom of Information Act » § 2.2-3707. Meetings to be public; notice of meetings; recordings; minutes

08/29/2026

The Town of Culpeper Parks & Recreation Commission will meet at 5PM on Monday, 31 August 2026, in the Economic Development Center (803 South Main Street).

A highlight of the agenda is an initial report on the Culpeper Community Pool's first 39 days of operation, from May 23 through June 30. During this timeframe the pool generated $102,639.76 in revenue and cost $97,572.90 to operate (a little over $5K in a positive balance).

Staff recorded 12,469 visits, including:

-- 8,953 Culpeper resident general admission
-- 623 non-resident general admission
-- 1,803 discount pass holders
-- 782 daycare participants
-- 210 facility rental participants (across six rentals)
-- 98 swim-lesson students

It is interesting to see how our community is using the pool. It is also encouraging that the revenue covered operating expenses for this initial period - reflects thoughtful planning and management of Culpeper County Parks and Rec department. The pool is a Town-County partnership, operated by the county with operating and maintenance costs shared equally between the two localities.

Parks & Rec will additionally hear updates on the recently approved StoryWalk project and will discuss the Parks, Recreation and Open Space section of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.

The meeting is open to the public and includes an opportunity for public comment. Please attend and let the Commission know your thoughts regarding our local parks and associated activities.

Detailed agenda: https://culpeperva-gov.community.highbond.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=2892

08/23/2026

Much of our detailed work on Town Council happens at our monthly series of committee meetings. Agendas are assembled with topics introduced by council members, staff and our citizen-led authorities, boards and commissions (ABCs). Residents and property/business owners are always welcome to attend, listen, and participate during public comment.

Four Council committee meetings are scheduled this week at the Economic Development Center, 803 South Main Street:

Tuesday, August 25

9:30AM - Personnel & Ordinance Committee
We will continue reviewing the handbook for Town-appointed authorities, boards, and commissions, including proposed social-media guidance for ABC memebers and whether background checks should become part of the application process.

-- I could be wrong but I have concerns that the proposed policy changes appear to infringe on free speech - citizens ought to govern themselves lawfully. The restrictions may also impact fellow citizens from participating in the ABCs - and these advisory groups are extremely critical to self-government. Should be a lively discussion!

9:45AM - Public Safety, Public Works, Planning & Community Development Committee
As chairman, I get to lead our discussion on topics regarding our Police, Fire Services, E911, Public Works, and Planning activities. Updates include the PD's recent automated license plate reader (ALPR) town hall and a new pedestrian crossing beacon near Yowell Meadow Park.

Wednesday, August 26

9:30AM - Light & Power and Environmental Services Committee
The committee will review electric, water, and wastewater operations and finances, along with updates on the reclaimed wastewater project (water source for data center cooling) and the proposed battery energy storage system (BESS).

9:45AM - Finance, Technology, Tourism & Economic Development Committee
Topics include the Town’s annual FOIA report, cybersecurity activities, and a budget adjustment for the Make a Mural workshop series, which will help create three new public murals at Heritage Park.

A public comment section is reserved near the beginning of each meeting. Whether you have a particular concern or simply want to better understand how your Town government works, I encourage you to attend and be part of the discussion!

Detailed agendas:

-- Personnel & Ordinance: https://culpeperva-gov.community.highbond.com/document/63009/

-- Public Safety, Public Works, Planning & Community Development: https://culpeperva-gov.community.highbond.com/document/63014/

-- Light & Power and Environmental Services: https://culpeperva-gov.community.highbond.com/document/63017/

-- Finance, Technology, Tourism & Economic Development: https://culpeperva-gov.community.highbond.com/document/63022/

08/17/2026

KNOW YOUR TOWN GOVERNMENT | Town Ordinances

Last time, we looked at the Town Charter, which establishes Culpeper’s form of government and defines the authority granted to the Town. Today, let’s look at how that authority is put into practice through town ordinances.

An ordinance is a local law adopted by the Culpeper Town Council. While the Charter tells us what the Town government is authorized to do, ordinances establish many of the rules under which the Town operates.

Culpeper’s ordinances address matters such as:

-- Public safety, peace and good order
-- Streets, sidewalks, parking and traffic
-- Water, sewer, electricity and refuse collection
-- Businesses, licenses, taxes and fees
-- Property maintenance, animals, noise and nuisances
-- Land use, zoning, subdivisions and historic preservation

Ordinances are considered and adopted during public meetings of the Town Council. Proposed ordinances are included in Council agenda materials, and certain subjects require a public hearing before Council may act. This gives citizens an opportunity to understand proposed changes, ask questions and offer comments before a decision is made.

Ordinances are organized by subject into the Culpeper Town Code. The online Code is searchable by keyword, so citizens don't have to know a chapter or section number to begin looking for information - just search for the topic.

The Town Code may be found here:
https://library.municode.com/va/culpeper/codes/code_of_ordinances

Be aware that Code supplements are generally published quarterly, so a recently adopted ordinance may not immediately appear in the online Code. The Town maintains a Code information page, and the Town Clerk’s Office can help confirm whether a particular section has been amended since the latest update:
https://www.culpeperva.gov/government/town_clerk/code_of_ordinances.php.

Informed citizens are essential for transparent government. I think it's important that we are aware of how local ordinances can affect our homes, neighborhoods, businesses and everyday activities. Citizens should be able to find these laws, understand why they exist and participate when changes are being considered.

08/10/2026

The Culpeper Town Planning Commission’s 6 August 2026 work session included preliminary discussion of two significant development proposals:

-- Former Roller Rink Property: The Christopher Companies presented a concept for redeveloping 1550 North Main Street as a 262-unit, garden-style apartment community consisting of three low-rise buildings, open green space, a clubhouse and pool. I was surprised to see this - I didn't realize the property was on the market. Unavailability of housing in our area is a concern, and it will be interesting to learn of the infrastructure impacts.

-- Battery Energy Storage System: Town staff introduced a potential battery energy storage system (BESS) at the Town’s Light & Power facility at 500 Electric Avenue. This facility would store power in batteries and return it to the grid when needed. This feasibility study was presented by the Timmons Group on behalf of the Virginia Municipal Electric Association (VMEA). This energy storage capability could provide resiliency to our local power grid. Look for this to come up as an agenda topic at an upcoming Light & Power and Environmental Services Committee.

Both of these topics were introductory discussions intended to gather Planning Commission feedback. Neither proposal was presented for approval at this meeting.

Agenda and details: https://culpeperva-gov.community.highbond.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=2880

Recorded meeting: https://culpepermedia.org/

08/10/2026

There is still time for both first responders and volunteers to register:

Culpeper will host a Wills For Heroes event on 20-21 August 2026 at Germanna Community College’s Daniel Technology Center.

This event is coordinated with the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia State Bar and is a significant service to help Culpeper first responders protect themselves AND their families by providing FREE estate planning documents, including wills, powers of attorney, and advance medical directives.

Right now, we need VOLUNTEERS to support our first responders and to help make this event a success.

There is a specific need for:
-- Virginia-licensed Attorneys
-- Notaries
-- Witnesses

You do not need estate planning experience to help. This is a practical, hands-on way to support the men and women who serve our community in law enforcement, fire services (volunteer & career), EMT, dispatch, and emergency support.

If you are an attorney, notary, or citizen willing to serve as a witness, please consider volunteering for this important Culpeper event.

-- Volunteer Sign-up - https://bit.ly/WFHCulpeperVolunteer

-- First Responder Registration - https://bit.ly/WFHCulpeper1stresponder

Let me know if you need more information!

Police Department
County Sheriff's Office - Timothy W. Chilton
County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, Inc.
County Emergency Services
Chamber of Commerce