2025 Spring Conference

Thank you for attending the 2025 Spring Conference at the Omni Charlottesville, April 24-26, 2025.

Important Documents:

PROGRAM

The following has been approved for 9 MCLE. You can download a copy of the printed program HERE.

2025 LGA Spring Conference | April 24-26 | Omni Charlottesville

Thursday, April 24

8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Spring LGA Board Breakfast, Meeting, & Lunch with Committee Chairs

1 – 1:15 p.m. Welcoming Remarks

1:15 – 2:45 p.m. General Session A (1.5 MCLE)

Legislative Update

Moderator:
Daniel N. Whitten, County Attorney, County of Fluvanna

Speakers:
Wade T. Anderson, Division Counsel, County of Prince William Public Schools
David Blount, Deputy Director, Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission
Michelle M. Gowdy, Executive Director, Virginia Municipal League

Panelists will provide an update on the results of the 2025 General Assembly session and the veto session, highlight bills impacting the practice of local government law, and discuss important issues coming out the session.

2:45 – 3 p.m. Annual Meeting

3 – 3:30 p.m. Break

3:30 – 5 p.m. Concurrent Sessions 1 & 2 (1.5 MCLE)

The Great GASB – Navigating Local Government Finance and Taxation

Moderator:
Catherine B. Lea, Town Attorney, Town of Orange

Speakers:
Leah D. Han, Deputy County Attorney, County of Hanover
Michael W.S. Lockaby, Member, Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC

This session combines practical advice and real-world scenarios in a discussion designed to help you ensure legal compliance, and effectively advise your clients regarding Comp Board appropriations, GASB issues, school budgets and appropriations, and the intricacies of managing litigation liabilities and debt compliance and bond covenant compliance for localities navigating financial and taxation processes central to local government operations.

OSHA and VOSH – Administrative Framework for Enforcement of Workplace Safety Standards

Moderator:
Lisa A. Robertson, Assistant Division Counsel, County of Prince William County Public Schools

Speakers:
Alfred B. Albiston, Litigation Manager, Virginia Department of Labor and Industry
Brandi A. Law, Senior Deputy City Attorney, City of Hampton

Panelists will discuss the relationship between the regulations and standards of the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), as implemented within the Commonwealth of Virginia through the Virginia State Plan, and the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Program administered by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. This presentation will provide an overview of the relationship between the State Plan and the VOSH Program and will describe the processes and procedures used by VOSH to investigate and enforce occupational and health standards within local government workplaces, fines that apply to public entities, and procedures for informal  resolution conferences and appeals from citations.     

6 – 7 p.m. YLGA-hosted Happy Hour

7 – 9 p.m. Opening Night Party: Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery

Friday, April 25

8 – 8:50 am Practice Group Meetings

8:30 – 9 a.m. Breakfast

9 – 10:30 a.m. General Session B (1.5 MCLE)

The Basics of Virginia Governing Bodies:  Meetings, Rules of Procedure, and Actions

Moderator:
Matthew C. Freedman, City Attorney, City of Lynchburg

Speakers:
John C. Blair, City Attorney, City of Staunton
Courtney R. Sydnor, City Attorney, City of Hampton

Panelists will discuss the basic requirements applicable to meetings, rules of procedure, and actions of local governing bodies and other public bodies in Virginia. The panelists will also address and discuss methods to help local government attorneys navigate through conflicts among governing body members.  This presentation is designed for the new local government attorney but will also serve as a refresher to the experienced local government attorney.    

10:30 – 11 a.m. Break

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Concurrent Sessions 3 & 4 (1.5 MCLE)

Risk Management– Why Does It Matter in Local Government?

Moderator:
Anthony R. Bessette, City Attorney, City of Hopewell

Speakers:
Tracey Dunlap, Director of Property/Liability Claims, Virginia Risk Sharing Association
John S.Honeycutt, Partner and Owner, Lucas & Kite, PLC
Lisa A. Robertson, Assistant Division Counsel, County of Prince William School Division

Panelists will discuss the management of legal and financial “risks”, as part of public bodies’ operations, using appropriate insurance coverages, and by attention to commercial contract clauses intended to shift risks in ways unfavorable to public entities.  Panelists will discuss the importance of understanding their public bodies’ insurance coverages, of working with insurance providers to ensure that public officials and employees receive appropriate education and training, and the need for attorneys to scrutinize contracts for boilerplate provisions intended to shift risks to public bodies (which may result in unintended waivers of legal rights or immunities, or violations of Article VII, Section 10 of the Virginia Constitution (the ‘Debt Clause’). 

Employment Law and Virginia Local Governments: The Basics, Grievances, and Collective Bargaining

Moderator:
Jeremy E. Carroll, Member, Spilman, Thomas & Battle, PLLC

Speakers:
Jeremy E. Carroll, Member, Spilman, Thomas & Battle, PLLC
Meghan S. Roberts, Deputy City Attorney, City of Alexandria
Timothy R. Spencer, City Attorney, City of Roanoke

Panelists will discuss employment law issues concerning discipline and discharge relevant to Virginia local governments, including employee investigations, procedural due process, progressive discipline, grievances and other employee rights, and collective bargaining, among others.

12:30 — 1 p.m. Awards Reception

1 — 2:30 p.m. Awards Banquet

(Offsite for afternoon activities)

8 — 10 p.m. Hospitality Suite

Saturday, April 26

8 – 8:50 am Practice Group Meetings

8:30 – 9 a.m. Breakfast

9 – 10:30 a.m. General Session C (1.5 MCLE)

Cybersecurity: Risks to Virginia Localities

Moderator:
James L. Windsor, Member, Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.

Speakers: 
Laura M. Carini, Deputy City Attorney, City of Roanoke
Joseph A. Dickinson, Member, Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.

Panelists will discuss data privacy and cybersecurity challenges facing local governments today. Speakers will share real-life experiences from recent cyberattacks, transactional due diligence cases and regulatory compliance struggles.  They will also discuss the alarming rise in ransomware threats, wire fraud and some of the vulnerabilities in local government systems. Attendees will gain valuable insights into identifying and protecting sensitive citizen information and understanding the practical aspects of implementing best practices to enhance data privacy and cybersecurity policies and compliance controls.  Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to safeguard your municipality in an increasingly valuable and risky digital landscape.

10:30 – 11 a.m. Hotel Check-out Break

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Concurrent Sessions 5 & 6 (1.5 MCLE)

Hot Topics in Law-Enforcement – Balancing Technology and Privacy

Moderator:
April R. Wimberley, Deputy City Attorney, City of Charlottesville

Speakers:
Sau Chan, Deputy City Attorney, City of Charlottesville
Michael P. Kochis, Chief of Police, City of Charlottesville
Karla J. Soloria, Assistant City Attorney, City of Norfolk

Panelists will discuss the practical usage and benefits of the latest law enforcement technology, the Fourth Amendment and other Constitutional concerns raised by such technology, recent litigation surrounding Flock cameras, and the challenges of adopting new technologies and considerations regarding public education and engagement.  

The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and Blight

Moderator:
Bonnie N. Brown, Deputy City Attorney, City of Alexandria

Speakers:
Emily C.R. Bittner, Senior Assistant County Attorney, County of Chesterfield 
Anne Ligon, Assistant City Attorney, City of Hampton
Kimberly Mikel, Building Code Official, City of Hampton

Panelists will discuss blight, unsafe structures, building code requirements, enforcement procedures, remedies, and present example case studies, including the enforcement measures taken to address a multifamily apartment complex in Hampton, such as enforcement in General District Court and injunction. The panel will also discuss relevant updates to case law.    

LGA THANKS OUR SPONSORS

Thank you to our sponsors for their support of LGA education. If you are interested in sponsoring the 2025 LGA Spring Conference, please contact staff.

LGA thanks our conference supporters:

LGA THANKS OUR ANNUAL SPONSORS: