On the agenda: Damascus minutes — automated license plate (Aug 3)

DAMASCUS TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes for August 3, 2026
6:00pm Regular Called Council Meeting

Council Members Present: Buddy Albro, Jeff Buckley, Sammy Campbell, Derwin Creech,
Hunter Faust, and Charles Fields

Absent: None
Also Present:

Katie Lamb, Mayor

Chris Bell, Town Manager

Tuesday Pope, Town Clerk
Shawna Cook, Treasurer

Kermit Turner, Police & Fire Chief
Julie Kroll, Recreation Program Director

Mayor Lamb called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance and Wayne Baker,
Laurel Ave Church of Christ, gave the invocation.
Mayor Lamb asked for approval of the July 6, 2026, Regular Council Meeting, with one typo
correction.
• Mr. Faust made a motion to approve the Minutes, as presented. Mr. Campbell 2nd the
motion, which passed (6-0).
Mayor Lamb asked for approval of the agenda
•

Mr. Fields made a motion to approve the agenda, as presented. Mr. Creech 2nd the motion,
which passed (6-0).

2024-25 Audit Report Summary and Engagement Letter for 2025-26 Audit Services. Mr. Buckley
read the audit overview submitted by Owens CPA & Associates, which showed a good, clean
audit, with no reported findings.
•

Mr. Buckley made a motion to approve the engagement letter from Owens CPA &
Associates to perform the upcoming 2025-26 fiscal year audit. Mr. Faust 2nd the motion,
which passed (6-0).

Committee Reports
Budget, Finance, and Administration:

Town Treasurer, Shawna Cook, submitted the following report for the previous month:

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Real Estate & Personal Property Taxes: The collection rate for 2026 Real Estate is 87.80%,
and 2025 Personal Property is 77.23%.
Meals & Lodging Tax: $25,061.79 in Meals Taxes and $15,387.19 in Lodging Taxes were
collected for July 2026.
Town of Damascus Virginia
Investment Pool (VIP)
RESERVE FUND
EARMARK POLICE VEHICLE
SEWER FUND CD
ANTHEM RECOVERY
ADDITIONAL WORKING CAPITAL
TRAIL DAYS RESERVE
Damascus Endowment Fund
FLOOD DISASTER RESERVE
VIP Stable NAV Liquidity Pool

Account
Balance
$64,996.21
$550.89
$31,595.61
$52,806.07
$637,399.12
$8,960.45
$195,157.23
$15,706.02
$1,007,171.60

FYTD
Income
$202.18
$1.76
$98.29
$164.23
$1,982.61
$27.88
$622.57
$48.85
$3,148.37

Inception
Date
08/11/2017
04/04/2018
11/26/2018
12/21/2018
08/08/2019
05/14/2020
11/7/2024
06/06/25

The balances shown below are from online banking:
Bank of Damascus:
General Fund: $335,178.60
CDBG ARC Downtown: $501.10
CDBG Program Income: $13,549.29
Damascus Endowment Fund: $3,482.28
Police Asset Forfeiture: $3,461.54
NRCS EWP: $25.00
Total: $356,197.81
Refunds issued to taxpayers in July 2026: $1,253.17
Announcements:
A vote is needed to approve a taxpayer refund of $6,562.84. I am also requesting that I still be
allowed to refund up to my limit of $2,500 for the month of August, as there are returned
refunds that need to be resolved.
• Mr. Buckley made a motion to approve the refunds, as requested. Mr. Fields 2nd the motion,
which passed (6-0).

Streets, Lights and Maintenance:
Mr. Creech reported that Public Works has been busy with the following projects:

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Parks and Recreation:

➢ Trout Days Post September 2026: Mr. Albro reported that we have had three Trout Days
events now, and they are popular events that require a lot of preparation and work from the
Town staff, which is very limited. He proposed that after the September event, the Town
relinquish the event to Mr. Faust, who owns Stone Fly Co and helped start the event, is willing
to take it on personally.
•

Mr. Buckley made a motion to transfer the event from the Town to Hunter Faust, after
the September 2026 event, as recommended. Mr. Fields 2nd the motion, which passed
(5-0-1, with Mr. Faust abstaining).

Planning Commission:

RV Park/Campground Construction – 609 Orchard Hill:
Mr. Bell reported receiving a request for a change of use at 609 Orchard Hill Rd. The property
owner wishes to establish a small RV park. The Planning Commission has reviewed the
application, and recommends the Council approve.
•

Mr. Buckley made a motion to approve the change of use application for 609 Orchard
Hill Rd, as requested. Mr. Faust 2nd the motion, which passed (6-0).
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Police and Fire Advisory:
Chief Turner presented the following reports for the previous month:

Operations: July 2026, Damascus Officers had 113 calls for service. We’ve taken 9 investigative
reports and made 5 arrests. We had 3 reportable accidents.
Arrests are as follows: Vandalism 2, DUI 1, Intoxicated in Public 1, Warrant Service 1.
Traffic Enforcement Activities: We issued 26 citations along with 10 warnings. Violations are as
follows: DUI 1, Drink while Driving 1, Expired State Inspection 1, Drive Suspended 2, Expired
Registration 1, Reckless Driving 1, Speeding 25 MPH 19.
Speeding complaint areas include: S Shady Ave
Special Report: We applied for a DMV Grant and were awarded the grant to start in October
2026 for DUI Check Points and Saturation Patrols.
I would like to ask if I can move forward with the USFS Agreement for extra Patrols on the
Creeper Trail. This agreement is good for 5 years and we will receive $50,000.00 each year to
pay for overtime and equipment. I would like to look at purchasing a side by side for the PD to
use for this operation. If approved, I will be getting 3 quotes for the equipment to bring before the
council next month.
•

Mr. Albro made a motion to move forward with the DPD/USFS agreement, as requested.
Mr. Buckley 2nd the motion, which passed (6-0).

K9 Report: See Attached Reports.
Police Vehicles: Nothing New Currently
Auxiliary: Nothing new currently.

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Chief Turner also reported that the July 3rd Independence Day event had a large crowd and
went well, and they were able to get the post-event traffic cleared out in 45 minutes.

Damascus Volunteer Fire Department

Here is a list of the call types that the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department received for the
Month of July 2026 as well as the dates that they occurred.
Motor Vehicle Collision - 3
Tree Down – 2
Bicycle Accident - 1
Transformer Incident - 1
Mutual Aid Calls - 2 1 Mutual Aid call was cancelled before responding.
Smoke Scare - 1 (Ridgeview Dr)
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10 Total calls for Damascus Volunteer Fire Department.


Chief Turner thanked the Council for paying the truck repair invoice from Damascus
Strong funds, and thanked the department members and Kiewit employees for their
assistance with a downed tree across the bridge.

Code Enforcement:

Mayor Lamb presented the following activity report for the previous month from the Town’s Code
Enforcement Officer, Marty Berry:

Visits and Contacts: 5
Lodging: 0
Assist P.D.: 1

Zoning: 14
Meals: 3

Business License: 2
Complaints and Investigations: 4

Special Committees
➢ Events & Economic Engagement – DAM200 Impact Report / Thrive Grant Awards
Mr. Bell gave the following reports:

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Damascus Business Community Thrive Grant Recap Report
The Damascus Business Community Thrive Grant successfully supported five local businesses
in implementing strategic growth plans over a six-month period. All five grant recipients: Stone
Fly Co, Bad Bagels Pet Emporium, Trail Town Adventure Golf, The Cardinal Music Hall, and
Appalachian Heritage Distillery & Brewery completed their required business growth trackers
and fulfilled the program's four core participation areas.
Throughout the program, participating businesses consistently promoted both their businesses
and Damascus as a destination through regular social media marketing, strengthened
relationships by attending Damascus Business Group meetings, collaborated on community
events, and actively participated in the town's major festivals and celebrations.
The collective impact of the program was significant:
 145+ social media posts were shared promoting both the participating businesses and
Damascus as a destination.
 Three of the five businesses each gained more than 1,000 new social media followers,
dramatically expanding their reach and increasing awareness of Damascus.

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Stone Fly Co. generated exceptional online exposure, with one Instagram reel surpassing
267,000 views and multiple additional reels exceeding 50,000 views, showcasing
Damascus to audiences far beyond the region.
 Eighteen collaborative community events were created and hosted by the five grant
recipients, strengthening partnerships and creating new experiences for residents and
visitors.
 All five businesses actively participated in every major town event during the six-month
grant period, helping create a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere throughout Damascus.
Beyond these measurable outcomes, the grant strengthened collaboration among local
businesses, encouraged consistent destination marketing, enhanced the visitor experience, and
fostered a stronger sense of community. The participating businesses made meaningful
progress toward their individual growth goals while collectively contributing to the economic
vitality and long-term success of Damascus.
The Damascus Business Community Thrive Grant demonstrated that intentional collaboration,
coordinated marketing, and active community participation create lasting benefits for both small
businesses and the town as a whole. The program established a strong foundation for continued
partnership, economic growth, and destination development in Damascus.


➢ Damascus Health Center Commission – Mr. Bell presented a list with the following five
membership nominees who are willing to serve on the commission: Kelly Pruett, Kermit
Turner, Kerry Guest, Beaty Jackson, and Joshua Bass. There are currently no members, as
all of the previous members had concerns about the liability language in the lease
agreement and resigned . Discussion followed.
• Mr. Buckley made a motion to appoint Kelly Pruett, Kermit Turner, Kerry Guest, and
Joshua Bass to the Damascus Health Center Commission. Mr. Albro 2nd the motion,
which passed (5-0-1, with Mr. Campbell abstaining).

Citizens Comments
1. Eleanor Goodrich, Bowlin St, spoke out against the use of automated license plate
readers in Town due to concerns with Flock and other companies’ collection and use of
the data.
2. Sara Collie, Old House Trail (not a Town resident, but local and Council granted speaking
time), spoke out against the use of automated license plate readers in Town due to
concerns with Flock and other companies’ collection and use of the data.
3. Drew Hines, Fig Tree Rd (not a Town resident, but local and Council granted speaking
time), spoke out against the use of automated license plate readers in Town due to
concerns with Flock and other companies’ collection and use of the data.
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

It was the consensus of the Council to hold a public comment period at the beginning of
the September Council meeting for further discussion of automated license plate readers
in Town.

Manager’s Report
Chris Bell presented the following Manager’s Report for the previous month:

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Creeper Trail
Sandblasting occurring on Trestle 16.
USFS announced trail reopening March 31, 2027.
Grand re-opening planning underway with trail owners & partners.
Awaiting design details on lighting and water monitoring camera packages for both
Trestles.

Emergency Preparedness
o Town emergency responders will participate in an Emergency Operations Procedure
workshop with VT & Appalachian State in September. Date TBD
FEMA/VDEM
o Awaiting approval of Town Hall project post insurance review
o Submitting preliminary Category Z expenses for review this month.
Grants
o Flood resilience community meeting completed on July 21st. 2nd workshop to be hosted in
Fall, date not yet determined.
o Kick-off meeting completed on July 13th to review scope and design for NRCS EWP-5035
project. WSSI/MRPDC meeting with property owners eligible for streambank restoration
work associated with project.
o Laurel Gateway Project – RKG hosted initial market and feasibility review meeting with
committee on July 23rd. Awaiting final compilation of study and a potential joint Town
Council and Board of Supervisor meeting for RKG to present findings and
recommendations during September timeline.
Miscellaneous
o Scattered Site Rehab Phase II – Demolition and removal underway of two blighted
properties. Committee approved additional contractor at July meeting for future rebuild
bidding.
o Bayer Property – Property bushwhacked and cleared in preparation for field sampling
scheduled for August/September.
o Stormwater Study – Hurt & Profitt completed survey mid-July and working on integrating
data into the proposed drain layout.
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o VDOT - The potential addition of catch basins being considered along Laurel Ave. to

address increased ponding of water post re-pavement and curb work earlier in year.
o Rooted in Damascus – Seeking council approval to proceed with recognition as a
community development partner and letter of support for Main Street designee.
•

Mr. Albro made a motion to approve proceeding as a community development partner,
and a letter of support, as requested. Mr. Faust 2nd the motion, which passed (6-0).

o Trademark– Certificate of issue for both “Trail Town, USA” and “Appalachian Trail Days”

trademarks is now complete and official.
o Health Commission Building Lease – Awaiting signature from the Health Commission on
the updated lease agreement for Medical Building.

Legal Matters
At the appropriate time, motion to Recess into Closed Session for Discussion and
Consideration of Admin Personnel Matters, per VA Code Section 2.2-3711 (A)(1).

Unfinished Business
➢ Urban & Community Forestry – VDOF grant expense approval, Julie Kroll:
Council action needed to approve the attached expense estimate of $15,746.20.
o Watershed Restore, LLC provided the in-kind tree planting support through the New River
Conservancy in spring 2026. This is a continuation of the same project.
o Our VDOF grant has a balance of $15,697.78; the remaining expense to the Town is $48.42.
o All work will be completed by December 1, 2026.
o After this grant is closed out, we intend to seek additional VDOF grant funding to continue
urban and community forestry projects.
•

Mr. Buckley made a motion to approve the expense estimate, as presented. Mr. Albro 2nd
the motion, which passed (6-0).

➢ PR Marketing Proposal (tabled at July meeting), Julie Kroll:

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• Mr. Buckley made a motion to match the VTC grant with $15,000 from the Damascus
Strong funds, specifically the downtown designated funds. Mr. Faust 2nd the motion, which
passed (3-3, with Mayor Lamb breaking the tie in favor).

New Business
a. Town Manager Resolution and Organizational Chart – second reading (the first reading
was after Closed Session at the July Council Meeting).

A RESOLUTION DEFINING THE POWERS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
TOWN MANAGER FOR THE TOWN OF DAMASCUS, VIRGINIA.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.6 of the Town of Damascus Charter states that “The
administration and government of the Town of Damascus shall be vested in the town
council”; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council of Damascus is interested in making certain Charter
revisions as it relates to the administrative organization of the Town of Damascus but
shall continue to retain its authority as it relates to appointees as set forth in the
Charter; and
WHEREAS, in anticipation of such Charter revisions, the Town Council of Damascus
seeks to develop an appropriate organizational structure that will ensure the efficient
and professional administration of municipal government; and
WHEREAS, the Council-Manager form of government requires a clear delegation of
administrative authority to ensure the effective delivery of public services; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council desires to establish a formal framework for the Town
Manager’s role, consistent with the practices of neighboring jurisdictions and the Code
of Virginia;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of Damascus, Virginia,
that the role and authority of the Town Manager are defined as follows:
I. Appointment and Tenure

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The Town Manager shall be appointed by a majority vote of the Town Council. They
shall serve at the pleasure of the Council and be compensated as provided by
contract or budget.
II. Powers and Duties
The Town Manager shall be the Chief Administrative Officer of the Town and shall be
responsible to the Council for the proper administration of all affairs of the Town. The
Town Manager’s duties include, but are not limited to:
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Personnel Management: The supervisory authority to appoint, suspend, or remove all
Town employees and department heads, subject to personnel policies adopted by the
Council and applicable state law.
Budgetary Oversight: Preparation and submission of the annual budget to the Council
and the administration of the budget after its adoption.
Policy Execution: Ensuring that all laws, provisions of the Town Charter, and acts of the
Council are faithfully executed.
Advisory Role: Attending all meetings of the Town Council with the right to take part in
discussions, but having no vote. The Manager shall keep the Council fully advised as
to the financial condition and future needs of the Town.
Contractual Authority: Executing contracts and agreements on behalf of the Town,
within the spending limits and procurement guidelines established by the Council.
III. Contractual Authority and Procurement Guidelines
The Town Manager is hereby designated as the Town Purchasing Agent. In this
capacity, the Manager is authorized to execute contracts and obligate Town funds
within the following tiered framework:
Tier 1: Administrative Approval (Up to $10,000)

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Authority: The Town Manager or their designee may authorize purchases for goods
and non-professional services without competitive quotes.
Requirement: While no formal quotes are required, the Manager must ensure the price
is "fair and reasonable" and fits within the approved departmental budget.
Tier 2: Small Purchase Procedures ($10,000 to $100,000)

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Authority: The Town Manager may award contracts in this range using informal
competitive procedures.
Requirement: A minimum of three (3) written or documented verbal quotes must be
solicited. The award shall go to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Tier 3: Formal Procurement & Council Oversight ($100,000 to $200,000)
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Authority: The Town Manager may initiate the procurement, but the final contract
award requires Town Council approval.
Requirement: These must follow Competitive Sealed Bidding or Competitive
Negotiation (RFP) as defined by the VPPA.
Exceptions: Professional services (engineers, architects, lawyers) have a lower formal
threshold, often requiring full competitive negotiation if the project exceeds $80,000.
Tier 4: Major Capital Projects (Over $200,000)
Authority: All contracts for goods and non-professional services exceeding $200,000,
and non-transportation construction exceeding $300,000, must be explicitly authorized
by a vote of the Town Council and executed via formal Invitation for Bid (IFB) or
Request for Proposal (RFP).
IV. Emergency and Sole Source Authority

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Emergency Procurement: In cases of an immediate threat to public health, safety, or
welfare (e.g., flood response or critical infrastructure failure), the Town Manager may
award contracts without competition. A written determination explaining the nature of
the emergency must be filed with the Town Council at the next available meeting.
Sole Source: If only one source is practicably available for a required good or service,
the Town Manager may award a contract after documenting the specific reasons why
competition is not possible.
V. Relation to Town Council
Except for the purpose of inquiry, the Council and its members shall deal with the
administrative service solely through the Town Manager. Neither the Council nor any
member thereof shall give orders to any subordinates of the Town Manager, either
publicly or privately. For purposes of clarification, the Town Council hereby adopts the
Draftfor
Organizational
Chart for Town
organizational chart
the Town of Damascus
as of
setDamascus
forth in Exhibit A hereto.
Town Council
Mayor
Town Manager (Zoning Administrator)

Public Safety
Department
Chief of Police/Fire

Fire Captain

Patrol Officers

Finance, Administration,
& Zoning Department
Town Treasurer

Town Clerk

Code
Enforcement
Officer

Public Works
Department

Parks & Recreation
Department

Maintenance
Supervisor

Parks & Rec Director

Maintenance
Worker(s)

Farmers
Market
Manager

Volunteer
Firefighters
Market
Vendors

Custodian

Pool Manager

Assistant
Pool Manager
Lifeguard(s)

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•

Mr. Albro made a motion to adopt the proposed Town Manager Resolution and
Organizational Chart. Mr. Creech 2nd the motion, which passed (3-3, with Mayor Lamb
breaking the tie in favor).

b. Damascus Trail Center Lease – Renewal Period
➢ Mr. Bell reported the current contract and lease agreement with the ATC will come up
for renewal on August 7, 2027. There are maintenance issues and repair costs
associated with the Town, who is responsible for the upkeep of the building. The
Town also pays for insurance on the building, so that is an additional cost. Currently,
there is a $1 symbolic lease amount for 10 years, which expires next year. The Town
has the option to charge the ATC up to $5,000 annually with the renewed lease, so he
suggested evaluating the average maintenance and insurance costs and working
with the ATC to establish a reasonable lease amount so that our taxpayers are not
covering those costs. He also suggested the Council not extend the initial renewal by
4 more years, which has been asked by the ATC (because that would be 10 years
from when they actually received keys once the building was completed).
c. Reschedule September Council Meeting (Tuesday, September 8, 2026) since Monday falls
on a holiday
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Mr. Campbell made a motion to reschedule the September Council Meeting for
Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 6pm. Mr. Albro 2nd the motion, which passed (6-0).

Consent Agenda
• Mr. Faust made a motion to pay the bills for invoices exceeding $2,500, 2nd by Mr. Albro.
The motion passed (6-0).
• Mr. Fields made a motion to pay the bills presented as well as the standard and/or
recurring bills that will come in before the next Council meeting. Mr. Creech 2nd the
motion, which passed (6-0).

Mayor & Council Members Reports
Mayor Lamb reported that the VA Highlands Festival’s ‘Day in Damascus’ was very successful
and thanked the festival staff as well as K.T. Martin for their efforts. She also thanked Cardinal
Cabinetry for the wall art behind the Council dais; Public Works for event preparations; and staff.
Mr. Albro said he hopes we can continue to be a part of the Highlands Festival schedule.
Mr. Buckley expressed his gratitude for the Town staff.
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Mr. Creech said his wife and grandchildren spent time at the Town Pool this summer, which has
a great family atmosphere, and benefits Damascus as well as surrounding communities.
Mr. Fields reported having customers ask him if there is anything the Town can do to bring in
another Dollar General or Family Dollar Store.

Announcements
UPCOMING EVENTS & OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
o Damascus Farmers Market – Thursdays from 4-7pm
o August 2 – Fire By Night at Town Park
o August 4 – End of Pool Season
o August 15 – Appalachian Sustainable Development’s ‘Taste of Damascus’ at Town Park
o September 5 – Iron Mountain Trail Run
For information on upcoming events, go to our website visitdamascus.org. For citizen info
go to damascus.org, and don’t forget our social media presence on Facebook and
Instagram!
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Mr. Faust made a motion to Recess into Closed Session for Discussion and Consideration
of Administration Personnel Matters, per VA Code Section 2.2-3711 (A)(1). Mr. Albro 2nd the
motion, which passed (6-0).

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Mr. Campbell made a motion to return to Open Session, 2nd by Mr. Fields. The motion passed (6-0).

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CERTIFY (individually): We Certify that only public business matters lawfully exempted from open
meeting requirements and only such matters identified in the motion by which the closed meeting
was convened were heard, discussed, or considered in the closed meeting.
Buddy Albro – Yea

Jeff Buckley– Yea
Sammy Campbell – Yea
Derwin Creech - Yea
Hunter Faust – Yea
Charlie Fields - Yea

•

Mr. Albro made a motion to offer Shawna Cook $3,600 annually in supplemental pay to
clean Town Hall weekly before/after hours. Mr. Fields 2nd the motion, which passed (6-0).

• Mr. Albro made a motion to adjourn, 2nd by Mr. Campbell. The motion passed (6-0).

8:40pm

___________________________________
Katie Lamb, Mayor

_________________________________
Tuesday Pope, Clerk
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