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

  • The Rockbridge Disability Services Board: Two (2) four (4) year terms
    • Bi-monthly, Regional (Lexington and Buena Vista) Board
    • The RDSB is and advisory board that advocates for persons in the region who have disabilities of all kinds. This includes monitoring accessibility of public and private facilities and pursuing grants and other initiatives to improve services and accessibility for persons with disabilities
  • The Buena Vista Economic Development Authority: One (1) four (4) year term
    • Meet on “as needed” basis
    • The EDA is responsible for approving, financing, and executing economic development incentives. This includes owning real estate; the EDA currently owns multiple undeveloped industrial-zoned properties in the City. The EDA has the legal authority to transact money, own property, and issue debt. The EDA also reviews and approves applications for the Façade Improvement Grant Program and the Revolving Loan Fund.
  • The Dabney S. Lancaster Community College Board: One (1) four (4) year term
    • Meet Mondays 4:00 pm
    • The board is comprised of ten members, each member serving four-year terms. 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 plan 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.
  • The Rockbridge Regional Library Board: One (1) four (4) year terms
    • Meet monthly
    • Board members serve four-year terms. 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.
  • The Maury Service Authority: One (1) four (4) year terms
    • Meet on “as needed” basis
    • The Maury Service Authority (MSA) owns and operates the water and sewer systems that primarily serve Lexington and Rockbridge County. The MSA buys water from the City of Buena Vista PSA, and the City holds a seat on this board.

For more information or to apply, please contact Dawn Wheeler, City Manager’s Office, 2039 Sycamore Avenue, Buena Vista, VA at (540) 261-8601 or email dwheeler@bvcity.org. The application form can be found here: Boards and Commissions Application

Local and Regional Boards, Commissions, Authorities, and Committees

Guide to regional and local boards & commissions: Board and Commissions

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 – Economic Development Coordinator - 540-261-8616

ROCKBRIDGE AREA COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD:

Kim Shaw – Executive Director – 540-462-6600

CENTRAL SHENANDOAH PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION:

Ms. Bonnie S. Riedesel – Executive Director – 540-885-5174

DABNEY S. LANCASTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE:

Dr. John Rainone – President – 540-863-2800

ROCKBRIDGE DISABILITY SERVICES BOARD:

Ms. Joan Manley – Chairperson – 540-463-9891

ELECTORAL BOARD:

Mrs. Emilie Staton – 540-261 -8605

ROCKBRIDGE REGIONAL JAIL BOARD:

Ed Hosken – Chairman – 540-463-2840

ROCKBRIDGE REGIONAL LIBRARY:

Ms. Julie Goyette, Director – 540-463-4324

BUENA VISTA PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY:

Mayor Bill Fitzgerald – Chairman – 540-461-0099

Ms. Dawn Wheeler - 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:

Mayor Bill Fitzgerald – Chairman – 540-461-0099

ROCKBRIDGE AREA RECREATIONAL ORGANIZATION:

Joey Jones – Chairman – 540-377-5545

BUENA VISTA CITY SCHOOL BOARD:

Teresa Ellison – Chairperson – 540-261-2129

ROCKBRIDGE AREA SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD:

Dinah Clark – Service Director – 540-463-1231