Agenda and additional materials for this meeting may be viewed HERE.
NOTE: Luray Meeting Minutes are only publicly posted after they are officially approved by town council. Minutes for meetings may not be available for 30+ days after each meeting date. Dates for “future” events mentioned in minutes may have already passed.
Approved minutes posted: August 3, 2026
A REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LURAY, VIRGINIA
Monday, June 8th, 2026
The Luray Town Council met in regular session on Monday, June 8th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Luray Town Council Chambers located at 45 East Main Street, Luray, Virginia at which time there were present the following: Presiding: Mayor Lillard Council Present: Ron Vickers Jerry Dofflemyer Ryan Dean Jason Pettit Joey Sours Chuck Butler Also Present: Bryan Chrisman, Town Manager Danielle Alger, Deputy Clerk Treasurer Chief Bow Cook, Luray Police Department Lonnie Foster, Luray Police Department Town Attorney, Jason Botkins, Litten & Sipe Jackie Wood, Luray Downtown Initiative Powell Markowitz, Luray-Page Airport Authority Roger Rothgeb, Boy Scouts Jason Frye, Boy Scouts Bill Dudley, Greenway Foundation Gladys McNemar, Greenway Foundation.
A quorum being present, Mayor Lillard declared the Council to be in session for the transaction of business. All present stood for a moment of silence. Mayor Lillard led everyone in the United States Pledge of Allegiance.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion: Councilman Vickers motioned to approve the Consent Agenda as presented, motion seconded by Councilman Butler with the vote as follows: YEA: Council Members Vickers, Dofflemyer, Dean, Pettit, Sours, Butler. Approved 6-0
Consent Agenda
(A) Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting –05/11/2026
(B) Accounts Payable totaling- $261,554.57
(C) Financial Reports for the period ending 05/31/2026
(D) Safety Manual Revisions as recommended by the Town of Luray Safety Committee
BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
Luray Downtown Initiative
LDI Director, Jackie Wood, gave a shoutout to the Public Works and Parks and Recreation Department for their stellar job within the town.
Ms. Wood stated she is preparing for the Downtown Get Down and is anticipating a big crowd this year.
Ms. Wood stated the Virginia 250 marker dedication on the Greenway Loop will be at 4pm on July 4th . Ms. Wood stated she would like the Mayor or a Council Member to speak at this event.
Ms. Wood stated the LDI Farmers Market will be held Saturday, June 20th.
Ms. Wood stated the folks from the Consulting Firm will be back on June 18th, she added they received good feedback from stakeholders. She also stated they would be back again on the 28th to present the study and will close out on June 30th.
Economic Development Authority
Leslie Currle was unable to attend and give an update this evening.
Luray-Page Chamber of Commerce
Gina Hillard was unable to attend and give an update this evening.
Luray-Page County Airport Authority
Powell Markowitz stated the Airport Authority was adding a new hangar. He stated this will be the last spot for commercial hangars.
Mr. Markowitz stated they were working on their capital improvement plan but have no projects for this year. Mr. Markowitz stated they receive entitlement funds and plan to spend on a fuel farm, hopefully within the next fiscal year.
Mr. Markowitz stated they want to build a maintenance storage building but will be located outside the gate and will be purchasing a piece of snow removal equipment.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
FY27 Budget
Town Manager, Bryan Chrisman, requested Council conduct a Public Hearing to receive citizen input and to discuss the FY27 Budget. The budget documents included for review and discussion are:
• Draft 14 Versions of the Synopsis, Revenue & Expenditures
• Graph of the Revenues by type
• Graph of the General Fund Expenditures by type
• Graph of the Total Expenditures
• FY27 Budget Ad
By State Law, the town must wait for at least seven (7) calendar days before taking action on the budget.
The planned date for review and action is during the Council Special Meeting on June 23rd, 2026, at 5:30pm.
Mayor Lillard opened the Public Hearing.
Hearing none, she then closed the hearing.
Councilman Butler applauded staff for putting together a budget that only increased two tenths of a percent. Mr. Chrisman stated that it’s only a fraction higher than last year. Councilman Vickers stated that Treasurer, Danielle Babb did a fantastic job.
Business License Tax Amendment
Town Manager, Bryan Chrisman, requested Council conduct a Public Hearing to receive citizen input, discuss, and take action of a proposal to amend Section 30-91 of the Town Code.
This Section relates to business license tax for carnivals, etc.
The documents included in tonight’s council packet for review and discussion are:
Section 30-91 (redline version with comments)
Section 30-91 (Exhibit A for attachment to the Ordinance)
Ordinance to enable the Amendment
Copy of the Public Hearing Ad
The Town Clerk/Treasurer, Danielle Babb has been working with the Town Attorney, Jason Botkins, to affect these changes to our Ordinance.
Mayor Lillard opened the Public Hearing. Hearing none, she then closed the hearing.
Councilman Sours stated he would love to hear the rationale behind these changes.
Mr. Chrisman stated they wanted to make sure it was fair on the ordinance. He added that things look a lot different now than previously.
Mr. Chrisman added this is aimed directly to a “carnival vendor” and “for profit” vendors.
Mr. Botkins added that his part in this was to update the code language in the State Code.
Mr. Chrisman added that the current Board of Directors would like to use the Fairgrounds more frequently. He added if we can work with them and make offering packages more attractive and affordable, will help monetary speed bumps that were under the old ordinance.
Motion: Councilman Vickers motioned the proposed Ordinance Amendment for Section 30-91, be approved, as presented. Motion seconded by Councilman Dofflemyer with the vote as follows: YEA: Council Members Vickers, Dofflemyer, Dean, Pettit, Sours, Butler. Approved 6-0.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Greenway Foundation
Bill Dudley, Hawksbill Greenway Foundation, stated that it is always a pleasure to work with the town and appreciates the support.
Mr. Dudley wanted to point out that we have a very loving and giving community. He added people love the greenway.
Mr. Dudley provided Council with a check this evening in the amount of $50,000 that was donated from residents of Luray and Page County along with Luray Caverns, SVEC, Pure Waer Form and Tourists.
Mr. Dudley also stated that he enjoys working along side Jen Jenkins with Parks and Recreation.
Mr. Dudley provided Parks and Recreation with a donation of $6,000 on top of a previous $4,000 donation.
Gladys McNemar, thanked all who attended Arbor Day and Anniversary on April 18th.
She stated this was the first time with a partnership and it was very successful.
Ms. McNemar thanked the Mayor for speaking at the event. She also added that the event was very well attended with around 80 participants.
Ms. McNemar thanked all the volunteers who helped with cleanup for Earth Day. She added there were 9 volunteers this year.
Ms. McNemar stated that she, alongside Chris Anderson and Susan Betcher worked on a grant application in early May for $300,000. She added that she will not know anything until early July but is hopeful.
Mayor Lillard inquired if the grant would be partial increments or all in full.
Ms. McNemar stated that it is all or nothing.
Mayor Lillard also inquired if they were selling shirts. Ms. McNemar stated that they will be but only by donation.
ACTION ITEMS
Re-Adoption of State Code Changes
Town Attorney, Jason Botkins, requested Council to take action on an Ordinance that re-adopts relevant sections of the State Code that have changed due to General Assembly actions which become effective July 1, 2026.
A copy of the Ordinance is included in tonight’s packet for review.
Motion: Councilman Butler motioned the Readoption Ordinance be adopted, as presented. Councilman Dean seconded the motion with the vote as follows: Council Members Vickers, Dofflemyer, Dean, Pettit, Sours, Butler. Approved 6-0.
BZA Reappointment
Vice Mayor Vickers is requesting Council Members to consider reappointing Jeff Crawford to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Mr. Crawford was nominated to serve an unexpired term. His current term expires June 30, 2026. Mr. Crawford was previously nominated by Vice Mayor Vickers.
Motion: Councilman Vickers motioned to nominate Jeff Crawford to serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals. Councilman Dofflemyer seconded the motion with the vote as follows: YEA: Council Members Vickers, Dofflemyer, Dean, Pettit, Sours, Butler Approved 6-0.
Recess
CLOSED SESSION
Discussion about the Performance and Employment of Specific Public Employees, and Consultation with Legal Counsel – Town Attorney
Town Council conducted a Closed Meeting for the discussion of the performance and hiring of specific public employees, as authorized by Section 2.2-3711 (A) (1) of the Code of Virginia. The subject matter of the meeting is specific local government employees.
Also, for discussion of the disposition of public property where such discussion in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating strategy of the public body, as authorized by Section 2.2-3711 (A) (3) of the Code of Virginia. The subject matter of the meeting involves town-owned properties.
Motion: Councilman Pettit motioned to convene and go into Closed Meeting for discussion of the performance and hiring of specific public employees, as authorized by Section 2.2-3711 (A) (1) of the Code of Virginia. The subject matter of the meeting is specific local government employees. Also, for discussion of the disposition of public property where such discussion in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating strategy of the public body, as authorized by Section 2.2-3711 (A)(3) of the Code of Virginia. The subject matter of the meeting involves town-owned properties.
Motion seconded by Councilman Sours with the vote as follows: YEA: Council Members Vickers, Dofflemyer, Dean, Pettit, Sours, Butler. Approved 6-0
~Closed Meeting~
Motion: Councilman Pettit motioned the closed meeting be adjourned and the Luray Town Council reconvene in open session. Motion seconded by Councilman Sours with the vote as follows: Council Members Vickers, Dofflemyer, Dean, Pettit, Sours, Butler. Approved 6-0.
Certification: Councilman Pettit asked members of Council with respect to the just-completed closed session and to the best of each member’s knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exemptedfrom open meeting requirements under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard discussed or considered in the meeting by the Town Council.
Motion seconded by Councilman Butler with the vote as follows: YEA: Council Members Vickers, Dofflemyer, Dean, Pettit, Sours, Butler. Approved 6-0.
TOWN ATTORNEY’S REPORT
Mr. Botkins stated he had nothing further this evening.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Council had nothing further this evening.
MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Lillard reminded everyone of the June 14th Garden Club Event. Mayor Lillard also reminded everyone of the Town Picnic to be held on July 2nd at 12:30pm at the Lion’s Shelter at Lake Arrowhead.
ADJOURN
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.