Town Council — 2025-04-04

This is the April 4, 2025 emergency Town Council meeting of Centreville called to consider Emergency Ordinance 05-2025 to add a new Chapter 2 for Administrative Search Warrants. Several citizens spoke in opposition saying the ordinance language was too broad and vague; Councilmembers proposed and discussed amendments including limiting the ordinance to non-residential properties and adding a sunset (time limit). The Council voted unanimously to adopt Emergency Ordinance 05-2025 as amended to restrict it to non-residential (commercial) properties and to end 120 days after enactment. The ordinance text states the Town or its code official may apply to a District or Circuit Court judge for administrative search warrants, requires a written sworn application describing the place and purpose, and lists judge-issued criteria (attempted access denied or owner not located; legal authorization to inspect; probable cause shown by specific evidence of a code violation or a public nuisance affecting health, safety, and welfare, or inclusion in an administrative inspection program). The meeting record also notes plans to create a Town Facebook page and instructions to sign up for meeting and emergency notifications on the Town website.