Adams resigns after not advancing in selection process

By Valerie Cury

Purcellville Interim Town Manager Glen T. Adams will step back, effective June 6.  Adams had expressed interest in becoming a full-time town manager, however he did not advance to the next stage in the selection process for a new town manager.  He handed in his resignation May 24.  In a phone call with the Blue Ridge Leader Adams said, “I have enjoyed my time working in Purcellville, and I love the community and staff.”

According to an article in the The Daily News newspaper, Galveston County, dated Nov. 22, 2021, Adams’ contract with that city, which was supposed to end in January 2023, ended abruptly after a city council executive session meeting. The article states that following a council executive session, the governing body returned to unanimously vote to affirm a separation agreement – effective immediately.  The City of Santa Fe had hired Adams in January 2020.

The Purcellville Town Council majority remains steadfast in pursuing goals of slow growth, controlled spending, debt reduction, and innovation.

Nevertheless, the status quo, as seen with various town managers and interim town managers, is promoting growth of the town’s boundaries; raising taxes to include utility rates; approving proposed projects without evidence-based justifications; and denying innovative solutions. 

Whether reviewing the Fields Farm tournament proposal, or the park and ride proposal, or the Rt. 7/690 Interchange project, Purcellville town managers, interim town managers, and planners have not pursued goals in tandem with the majority of the Town Council’s promised principles. 

The City of Williamsburg Policy and Procedures Manual explains the “will of the majority” policy this way: “Once a vote is taken and the issue decided, however, City Council speaks to the staff with a single voice.  It is sometimes tempting for Council members holding the minority view to pursue their viewpoint, first through staff and later with Council.  Nevertheless, the City staff must respond to the majority view, regardless of whether or not an individual Council member agrees, and regardless of whether or not the staff may agree.”

The manual goes on to say, “While staff may like to be responsive to each individual Council member, an impossible situation develops when staff is requested to accommodate a Council member apart from the Council-to-Manager-to-staff line of authority.” 

Implementing the will of the majority policy in Purcellville has been a challenge for the Town Council majority. Consequently, the lack of adherence to and respect for governing body laws, rules and protocols sees a minority of Purcellville’s Town Council members going directly to staff to give direction on project implementation independent of the entire governing body and absent a consensus.