Mayor's Message
May your week be as lively as last night’s Mardi Gras parade on Bourbon Street!
A Heartfelt Thank You
I regret to inform you of the resignation of Councilmember Buchanan “Buck” Smith from the Town Council. Buck served as the longest tenured member of the Council, first winning a Special Election in February 2019, then being reelected in July 2020. Prior to his time on Council, Buck was a member of the Planning Commission from September 2014 – July 2016. In both capacities, Buck has been a vocal advocate for the Town, keeping its small-town character and highlighting its events and community ceremonies. He was instrumental in the two Comprehensive Plan revisions over the past decade, a champion of the Transportation Master Plan, investments in our infrastructure, and always working to keep Lovettsville the best place to be in Loudoun County!
In his resignation, citing health and family commitments, Buck wrote:
“I’m extremely proud of the contributions I've made to the work we have done and the relationships I’ve made…I am sure I will find myself in the service of our town again. I leave this town in perhaps the best hands that have assembled to lead us all into the future, while staying a bit quirky!”
Please join me in wishing Buck well on his future endeavors and thanking him for his long history of service to Lovettsville!
Two Creams, Three Sugars...#cwac is Back!
We hope that you were able to make it out to Backstreet Brews this past Monday to support Cub Scout Pack 962!
We invite you to return to Back Street Brews Coffee & Tea House TOMORROW, Thursday, February 23rd, for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Coffee with a Cop from 8:30AM – 10:30AM. Come out and meet Lovettsville’s newest Community Resource Officer, Deputy Southward, along with his colleagues who serve and protect our Town every day. We look forward to seeing you there!
Get Ready for Fun & Action at its Best at the 2023 Mayfest!
The Town’s premiere Spring Event is back! This year’s Mayfest is all about backyard, Olympic-style friendly competition. This year, Mayfest is going to feature the end-all-be-all of Backyard Olympic Games! Teams of 6-8 will compete for the title of Champion across 8 different events. The top four teams will compete in the final obstacle course for a winner-takes-all showdown!
Interested in being a vendor as we return with arts & crafts, food and games? Fill out an application here! Sponsorship opportunities are also available, email mayfest@lovettsvilleva.gov for more information!
Don’t Take These for Granted...New Grants Available!
The Town of Lovettsville is now accepting applications for the Fiscal Year 2024 Local Arts Grant. Last year, the Commonwealth local arts matching grants were expanded and opened to more than one area organization for the first time. The Council and I are excited to continue to make this available to all of Lovettsville’s art community!
All applications must be submitted to the Town of Lovettsville by Wednesday, March 1st. Applications may be submitted at Town Hall at 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, VA during the hours of 8:30AM-4:30PM Monday-Friday or submitted via email to the Town Clerk at clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov. A confirmation email will be sent upon receipt.
Additionally, ARPA funded Utility Assistance Grants are also available for our residents, businesses, and non-profit organizations. More information on eligibility and how to apply are available here.
Get Your Write On!
The Virginia Municipal League (VML) invites students enrolled in the 7th Grade during the 2022-2023 school year to join its “If I were Mayor” essay contest.
Regional winners selected from around the state will each receive a $150 gift card and a plaque. One statewide winner chosen from the regional winners will receive a $250 gift card and a plaque (with the runner-up from that region become that region’s winner).
Winning essays will be featured in the May issue of VML’s magazine Virginia Town & City. See Rules & Regulations for more information on eligibility requirements.
Opportunities to Serve Your Community
We encourage you sign up for one or more of our opportunities to get involved and give back to your community!
With Buck’s departure and as discussed at last week’s Special meeting, the Lovettsville Town Council currently has a vacant Council Member seat with a term that expires December 31, 2024. An appointment can be made by Town Council in anticipation of a special election on November 7, 2023. Any person qualified to vote in town elections is eligible for appointment. Council Members appointed to fill vacancies on the Council shall have the rights, privileges, powers, duties and obligations of an elected member. All interested parties must complete an Application for Town Service that can be found on the Town’s website (here) and submit to the Town Clerk before 4:30 P.M. on Friday, March 10, 2023.
Submissions can be made via email at clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov or in-person at the Lovettsville Town Hall at 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays, holidays excepted.
Our Mayfest Committee has been working to bring back the “All American Picnic” during Memorial Day Weekend 2023 and we will have some exciting announcements soon on this year’s line up!
Our Oktoberfest Committee is back at it with the 2023 planning and has published a letter detailing how you can get involved! Sign up and current list of available long-term volunteer positions are available on the Lovettsville Oktoberfest website.
We also have a vacancy on our Board of Zoning Appeals, which is limited to in-town residents and serves as judicial body for zoning appeals which may come before the town.
If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please fill out the Town application!
We’re Hiring!
The Town of Lovettsville seeks a dedicated, responsive, and experienced individual to serve as the legal advisor and counsel to the Mayor, Town Council, Town Manager, and Commissions, in the position of Town Attorney. The Town Attorney is appointed by the Mayor, confirmed by (and serves at the pleasure of) the Town Council and is a part-time position contracted via an annual retainer or on an hourly basis.
The Town Attorney assists with enforcement of non-criminal violations of Town Code, drafts and reviews contracts, agreements, licenses, permits, deeds, leases, easements, franchise agreements, ordinances, policies, and resolutions. The Town Attorney does not provide legal advice to private citizens; nor are they permitted to make referrals. Criminal violations of the Town Code typically fall under the purview of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney.
Interested parties should send a letter of engagement with a detailed resume or curriculum vitae to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov. For more details regarding the position, please visit the Town's webpage at Careers | Town of Lovettsville, VA.
Town Council Meeting
The next regular Town Council meeting is tomorrow, February 23rd at 6:30PM. The draft agenda and related documentation are available here and include:
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Execution of Lovettsville Game Protective Association Conservation Easement
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Consent Agenda Items for Previous Meeting Minutes Adoption, Additional Engineering Services to Modify the East Broad Way/South Church Street Streetscapes Improvements Plan and the renewal of the Town's partnership with the Lovettsville-Waterford Ruritan Club for the Annual Eggstravaganza
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Public Hearing for LVCU 2022-0002 (One Family Brewing Setback Conditional Use Permit)
Public Hearing Notice from Loudoun Now
Public Hearing Notice from Loudoun Now
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Consideration of Lovettsville Oktoberfest Partnership with the Lovettsville Lions Club
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Consideration of Planning Commission 2023 Annual Work Plan
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Consideration of Wellhead Protection Plan Implementation Ordinance
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Town Council Budget Work Session (3 of 4): General Fund
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Considerations of Standards of Conduct Policy Updates
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Project Manager’s Report
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Zoning Administrator’s Report
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January 2023 Financial Report
As always, public comment is welcomed and can be provided via email or letter by 3:00pm the day of the meeting or during the meeting in-person or via Zoom (zoom details in the agenda).
If you have any questions or concerns, or simply want to verify information, please feel free to reach out to me, any member of Town Council, the Planning Commission, and/or the Town Manager. The Town will be more than happy to answer your questions. Additionally, our agendas, meeting materials, and previous meeting video recordings will be posted on our AV Capture solution.
Please do not hesitate to reach out should you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Christopher Hornbaker
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