Rush Job? Planned City Manager review ahead of August 12 investigation causes concern

By David McNair

According to Charlottesville City Councilor Bob Fenwick, a decision on whether or not to extend Charlottesville City Manager Maurice Jones’ contract is “underway now” and “might be done by the next Council meeting.”

That news has apparently caused some concern in the community, as Tim Heaphy, the former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia hired to evaluate the City’s handling of events leading up to the Ku Klux Klan and white nationalist rallies over the summer —which left three people dead — isn’t expected to finish his investigation until Thanksgiving.

“There have been many calls for Mr. Jones’ resignation (along with that of Mayor Mike Signer and Police Chief Al Thomas) from across our community — this was very much in evidence during the Community Town Hall that was held after said community effectively shut the Council’s post-August 12th meeting down,” writes a local business owner in an email circulated among colleagues today. “ Whether or not these c…