Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Blacksburg Town Council has announced Joel Goodhart and Andrew Kassof to fill the terms of Liam Watson and Michael Sutphin, but that decision is not sitting well with some citizens.
The council’s intention was announced before the Jan. 13 meeting, during which a public hearing was scheduled about the open seats, thus creating some controversy. A vote on the two open seats is scheduled to take place at the council’s Jan. 27 meeting.
Watson recently resigned after a Montgomery County court found him guilty of voter fraud, while Sutphin was elected mayor in November, thus having to give up his council seat.
Goodhart was born and raised in the New River Valley. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Virginia Tech, and his work experience includes positions with the YMCA and Montgomery County Public Schools. He lives in Blacksburg with his wife and two children. He ran for town council last November and campaigned on being a champion for a stronger, more livable Blacksburg. He attended the Blacksburg Citizen’s Institute and currently serves on the Town’s Housing and Community Development Advisory Board.
Kassoff is the former President of Environmental Engineering & Education Consulting, Inc., and the former Director of Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. He has a bachelor’s degree in Geology from James Madison University and a master’s in environmental engineering from Virginia Tech. He has served on the Blacksburg Planning Commission since 2010; prior to that he was the Chair of the Blacksburg Stormwater Task Force.
The appointments would allow the two to serve on council until a special election is held in November to complete the full term.
But several members of the public questioned why the decision on these two specific candidates was made before planned public comments at the Jan. 13 meeting.
Rick Johnson pointed to the appointments and the decision being made behind closed doors. Johnson, who is a past candidate for council, had submitted his application for one of the open positions. He said he felt the process would be more open, with citizens being able to express their thoughts before appointments were made.
“We were under that impression with candidates being discussed at the meeting,” he said.
The vacancies must be filled within 45 days of their opening, and under town requirements, a public comment period must be held at least seven days prior to the appointment.
Johnson also said he believed there was a cloud hanging over town council after Watson’s conviction. Another speaker at this week’s council meeting expressed her concern over transparency in the appointments.
In other matters, council approved a special use permit to allow a dance hall/restaurant at 130 Jackson St. in the downtown area called Olaika restaurant and bar. The permit will allow a maximum of 292 people. The restaurant will operate up to 10 p.m. with the dance hall opening afterwards.
The location is the former site of an ax throwing business and commonly known as the Red Cross building.
