No one spoke at the public hearing on the ordinance that amends the town’s appropriation and capital improvement plan for the fiscal year that began July 1, 2026, and ends June 30, 2027. The money is intended for Route 1 corridor work that includes widening preparation and renovations.
Proposed uses listed at the meeting include upgrades at the Jeff Simpson Community Center, repairs at Historic Dumfries, wayfinding and historical markers, land acquisition, and facade improvements through the Economic Development Authority. Roughly $5.9 million remains unallocated to the corridor. Accepting the state funds also frees about $780,000 in local money that the town can reallocate into the listed projects. Staff told the council that specific projects will return for approval before any of the dollars are committed. Chair Pro Tem Selonia B. Miles made the motion. It passed 7-0. The adoption follows a Sept. 15 discussion of first-cut numbers and a capital-plan error correction.
In a separate action the same night, the council authorized Town Manager Tangela Innis to execute a contract with Republic Services of Virginia for $471,360. The amount exceeds the town manager’s spending threshold and therefore required a council vote. The service covers twice-weekly trash removal, one weekly recycling pickup, year-round yard waste, an annual bulk-item collection, and Christmas tree pickup. Transition to the new contractor begins 21 days after the contract is executed and a start trigger is met. The town plans to announce any can change-out through social media and its newsletter.
A separate motion to set the two regular trash pickup days as Tuesdays and Fridays also passed. Councilman Brian K. Fields voted no. The rest of the council voted yes: Shaun R. Peet, Russell A. Young, Caetrina A. Peterson, Selonia B. Miles, Monaé S. Nickerson, and Mayor Derrick R. Wood. The main resolution authorizing the town manager to enter the agreement, subject to form and legal sufficiency, passed 7-0.
During discussion, Fields suggested suspending parking tickets on trash days during the transition. Innis said ordinance limits apply and that the town will work with public works on signage. Council members noted that the earlier switch from Waste Management to Bates was not smooth and that addresses on cans promised during that change were never delivered. Old 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. signs were tied to a former street sweeper schedule. Enhancements in the new contract versus the prior one will be detailed later. Public works will monitor performance and report complaints. The town is also procuring a new street sweeper.
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