CITY OF RICHMOND

City hopes to make short list for $30M U.S. grant to transform East End

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ last chance for a bid at $30 million in federal funds needed to overhaul the city’s East End — a top priority for his administration — now is in the hands of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development officials. The application, submitted last week, marks a fifth attempt by the city to secure Choice Neighborhood dollars for the purpose of deconcentrating poverty in a section that is home to half of Richmond’s poor. With six months left in Jones’ term, the city has made its most ambitious pitch to date. It is bypassing lesser planning grants to angle for money needed to implement plans to replace one of the city’s oldest and largest public housing communities.

Richmond City Council questions mayor’s proposal to raise taxes and increase debt ceiling

Richmond City Council members on Tuesday questioned the timing, necessity and impact of the tax increases that the city’s financial adviser says would accompany Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ proposal to raise the city’s debt ceiling. They didn’t, however, make any decisions or offer many hints about how they plan to proceed. Jones introduced his proposal last week. Tuesday’s meeting of the council’s organizational development committee, which includes all members of the council, gave the city’s governing body its first in-depth overview of the proposal.

Richmond taps Goochland official to be new finance director

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ administration has tapped a Goochland County official to lead the city’s long-struggling finance department. John B. Wack, who worked as Goochland’s deputy administrator for financial services, is the fifth person in less than four years to hold the position. Wack, hired July 1, replaces interim director James Duval, who has resumed his role as the manager of the city’s investment and debt portfolio. Before Duval was appointed to the position, the city hired a longtime Virginia Commonwealth University finance official, Paul Jez, who resigned last year, citing challenges “far greater than I could have imagined.”

CHESTERFIELD

Superintendent has stake in Chesterfield’s school system

As one of Chesterfield’s youngest superintendents, James F. Lane may have to work a little harder to prove that he is the right person at the helm of Virginia’s second-largest school division. But at 38, Lane is confident that he is ready to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, Marcus J. Newsome, 62, who started his new job with Petersburg City Schools last week. “I hope to show through my knowledge in instruction and operations that I am not only ready, but I’m the leader that can continue to move our school division forward,” Lane said in a recent interview at his now-vacated office in Goochland County, where he had served as superintendent for five years.

Chesterfield administrator’s regional experience gives him an edge

Incoming Chesterfield County Administrator Joseph P. Casey knows that he has big shoes to fill. “I will never catch up to somebody who has 37 years of experience on the front lines,” said Casey, referring to his predecessor, James J.L. “Jay” Stegmaier, who retired last week after a career in Chesterfield that spanned nearly four decades. But what he lacks in personal history in the county, Casey, 52, wants to make up for by observing and reaching out to residents.

Chesterfield hires former Goochland County Administrator Rebecca Dickson

Former Goochland County Administrator Rebecca T. Dickson says she is still battling cancer, but has taken up a new position as Chesterfield County’s interim deputy administrator for management services. Dickson, who retired from her previous job in April because of her health issues, will work on a part-time basis for Chesterfield, “until recruitment is completed for a full-time candidate,” according to a statement released by the county Tuesday. Dickson said that she was “thrilled to be back in Chesterfield,” where she served as budget director and deputy county administrator for human services for 19 years, and that she has received a warm welcome.

Chesterfield asks residents to help remake county’s blueprint

Under new leadership, Chesterfield County is changing the way it engages with residents about spending and other community priorities. County residents have been asked to “Build Chesterfield’s Blueprint” by sharing their thoughts this summer through an online survey and at workshops beginning next week. “This is a calibration moment to make sure we’re heading in the right direction and we are using our resources in a way that folks would like to see,” Assistant Budget Director Matt Harris said in an interview Thursday.

HANOVER

Ashland passes resolution urging state agency to improve communication on high-speed rail project

Town officials in Ashland are imploring the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation for more transparency as the agency continues to study options for a high-speed rail project that would connect Washington and Richmond. A resolution unanimously passed by the Ashland Town Council during a lengthy meeting Tuesday states that residents and businesses that potentially would be affected by the project have not been adequately kept up to date about options currently under study by the agency. “The Town Council, the general public and key stakeholders in Ashland believe that they have not been fully presented all the information necessary to make a well-informed decision,” the resolution states.

HENRICO

Henrico names new deputy county manager

Henrico County’s new deputy county manager for administration will be a familiar face. Current Stafford County Administrator Anthony J. Romanello is slated to begin his new role in mid-September. He replaces Joseph P. Casey, who became county administrator for Chesterfield County on July 1. A graduate of Hermitage High School, Romanello went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in history and American government from the University of Virginia and a master’s in public administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.

REGIONAL

Richmond presents 3 concepts for bus system redesign, wants feedback

As Richmond works to redesign its bus service, riders and residents are being asked to decide whether they want a system that prioritizes high-frequency service or one that offers deep coverage into neighborhoods. To that end, a consultant for the city has designed three concepts for how GRTC Transit System’s service within Richmond could be reworked. One provides bus service every 15 minutes along the city’s most densely populated corridors, treating the service more like a business whose goal is to maximize ridership.

STATE

Likely revenue shortfall prompts state to reassess economic outlook

Raises hang in the balance for state workers, school teachers and other public employees as Virginia collects and counts the last dollars coming into the treasury from the fiscal year that ended last week. But while the size of an expected revenue shortfall will determine whether salaries increase Dec. 1, as scheduled, in the state budget that took effect Friday, Gov. Terry McAuliffe and the General Assembly plan to take a fresh look at revenue projections even if not required to do so by law. “I don’t see a scenario where we’re not going to have to at least informally look at the (revenue) forecast,” Secretary of Finance Richard D. “Ric” Brown said last week.

Va. wins $165 million grant to unlock ‘Atlantic Gateway’ with rail and highway improvements

Virginia has won a $165 million federal grant to unlock what it calls the “Atlantic Gateway” to speed passenger rail, freight trains and highway vehicles through one of the most congested corridors on the East Coast. The FASTLANE grant will combine with $565 million in private investment by Transurban and CSX Transportation, as well as $710 million in state transportation funds, to carry out some of the biggest projects on the state’s transportation wish list in a package worth $1.4 billion.

ELECTIONS

Richmond Realtors group endorses five incumbents for City Council

Citing a need for continuity and experience at City Hall, the Richmond Realtors Political Action Committee announced Monday that it is endorsing all five incumbents running for re-election to the City Council in November. They are council members Chris A. Hilbert, 3rd District; Parker C. Agelasto, 5th District; Ellen F. Robertson, 6th District; Cynthia I. Newbille, 7th District; and Reva M. Trammell, 8th District. In the 1st District, the organization is endorsing Andreas Addison, citing his experience working in City Hall. In the 2nd District, it endorsed Charlie Diradour, citing his business experience. In the 4th District, it is endorsing Kristen Larson, citing her work on the School Board. And in the 9th District, it endorsed Michael Jones, citing his business experience.