Although City Council is the governing body of the City of Buena Vista, there are multiple boards, commissions, authorities, and committees that focus on specific issues. These volunteer entities, some of which are local and some of which are regional, perform important work advancing the Rockbridge area.
Current Board and Commission Vacancies
There is an upcoming opening for the Buena Vista seat on the Mountain Gateway Community College Local Board. This term will begin July 1, 2025, and will expire on June 30, 2029.
The board is responsible for serving as a channel of communication between the State Board of Community Colleges and the government of local political subdivisions. The board recommends to the State Board the master site plans for the college and its campuses, approves capital outlay plans for parking and reserve funds for parking from local government for the construction, repair, and maintenance of parking; and participates in the selection, evaluation, and removal of the college president. Other responsibilities include eliciting community participation in program planning and development, establishing local citizen advisory committees for specialized programs and curricula, reviewing new curriculum proposals and program discontinuation proposals, and overseeing the development and evaluation of the college’s community service program. The board reviews and approves local funds budgets, in addition to approving local regulations on student conduct.
There is an upcoming Buena Vista seat opening on the Rockbridge Regional Library Board of Trustees. This term will begin July 1, 2025, and expire on June 30, 2029.
The board is responsible for managing the operations of the Rockbridge Regional Library, which is exclusively for educational purposes. The library has branches in Bath County, Buena Vista, Glasgow, Goshen, Lexington, and owns a mobile Bookmobile bus.
You must be a citizen of Buena Vista to qualify for these board positions.
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For more information or to apply, please contact Sarah Burch, City Manager’s Office, 2039 Sycamore Avenue, Buena Vista, VA at (540) 261-8601 or email [email protected]. The application form can be found here: Boards and Commissions Application
Local and Regional Boards, Commissions, Authorities, and Committee
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS:
Mr. Dennis Hawes – Chairman – 540-261-3382
Mr. Tom Roberts - Zoning Administrator - 540-261-8607
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY:
Mr. Brent Styler - Chairman - 571-246-2340
Ms. Kristina Ramsey – Secretary, Economic Development Coordinator - 540-261-8616
ROCKBRIDGE AREA COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD:
Ms. Kim Shaw – Executive Director – 540-462-6600
CENTRAL SHENANDOAH PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION:
Ms. Bonnie S. Riedesel – Executive Director – 540-885-5174
MOUNTAIN GATEWAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE:
Dr. John Rainone – President – 540-863-2800
ELECTORAL BOARD:
Mrs. Emilie Staton – 540-261-8605
ROCKBRIDGE REGIONAL JAIL BOARD:
Mr. Jason Tyree – Chairman – 540-261-8600
ROCKBRIDGE REGIONAL LIBRARY:
Ms. Julie Goyette, Director – 540-463-4324
BUENA VISTA PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY:
Mayor Tyson Cooper – Chairman – 540-784-8718
Ms. Sarah Burch - 540-261-8601
MAURY SERVICE AUTHORITY:
Capt. John E. Riester – Chairman – 540-817-0235
BUENA VISTA PLANNING COMMISSION:
Mr. Dennis Hawes – Chairman – 540-461-5263
Mr. Thomas Roberts – Zoning Administrator – 540-261-8607
SHENANDOAH VALLEY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD:
Mr. Jeff Stapel – Chairman – 540-828-2536
PUBLIC RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AUTHORITY:
Mr. Bill Fitzgerald – Chairman – 540-461-0099
ROCKBRIDGE AREA RECREATIONAL ORGANIZATION:
Mr. Joey Jones – Chairman – 540-377-5545
BUENA VISTA CITY SCHOOL BOARD:
Ms. Teresa Ellison – Chairperson – 540-261-2129
ROCKBRIDGE AREA SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD:
Ms. Dinah Clark – Service Director – 540-463-1231