By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Jan. 8 — Near the conclusion of Monday night’s meeting, the Luray Council went into closed session to discuss the Town Manager position for the fourth time.
During closed sessions held on Dec. 4, Dec. 11 and a special meeting or “retreat” held at the Mimslyn Inn on Saturday, Jan. 6, members of the Luray Council have discussed the vacant Town Manager position. They left council chambers following Monday night’s closed session still without naming a new manager.
On Dec. 11, the council appointed longtime assistant town manager Bryan Chrisman as the “interim” town manager. Chrisman was first hired as assistant town manager of Luray on January 8, 2007. In fact, he celebrated his 16th anniversary with the Town on Monday night.
After turning down opportunities in past years to take the helm during a transition, Chrisman has put his hat in the ring this time around and is now awaiting a final decision by the council.
“Certainly, I am very happy with the support and good opinion of the Mayor and Council, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve the citizens of Luray and its visitors,” Chrisman told Page Valley News on Tuesday.
A final decision could potentially be made later this month or at council’s Feb. 12 meeting.
Prior to being hired by the Town of Luray, Chrisman worked for two years at Racey Engineering as a Project Manager — and prior to that, he served as an Environmental Health Supervisor with the Lord Fairfax Health District of the Virginia Department of Health for about 14 years.
The interim town manager has also asked the council to consider advertising for a mid-year, full-time position to “serve as a Zoning & Planning Assistant, and an Administrative Assistant to provide coverage for a variety of tasks supporting the Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, the Town Council and Planning
Commission,” according to a report.
The council removed the item from Monday night’s agenda, but discussed the issue during Saturday’s “strategic planning session.”
“Use of existing budgeted funds from other Administration positions will cover this hire for the remainder of FY 24,” the report states. “The position will be added to the FY25 budget draft that is in progress.”
In other business at its Jan. 8 meeting, the Luray Council took the following actions:
• Unanimously agreed to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to construct two pickleball courts at a cost not to exceed $200,000. Council members seemed pleased to be moving forward with the idea, which has been discussed for more than a year since the Town was first approached about a private donation toward such a project. Council mentioned during discussion that the project could potentially be paid for through remaining ARPA funds.
• Heard a report from Interim Town Manager Bryan Chrisman regarding the upcoming schedule for planning the FY25 budget over the next six months and a request for council to provide general goals and comments for developing next year’s budget.
• Unanimously agreed to hold a public hearing at their regular February meeting (Monday, Feb. 12) to receive public input on a special use permit application submitted by Natalie Painter to operate a lodging house at 6 Wilson Ave. The two bedroom, 1,336 square-foot dwelling sits in a High Density Residential (R-3) Zoning District on 0.18 acres. Painter, a contract buyer, is submitting the application for property owner Cody Hoke. A maximum of two guests per room will be allowed to stay up to 14 days. The permit does not transfer. The Luray planning Commission was scheduled to hold a public hearing on the issue on Wednesday, Jan. 10.
For more information about the Town of Luray,
visit https://www.townofluray.com/
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