About 30 people came out to the Holland Community House on Thursday night to hear City Council candidates answer questions on everything from city management and teacher raises to transportation and their vision for the village of Holland.

Incumbent City Councilman Jeffrey Gardy, a lawyer, and his challenger, Johnson’s Gardens owner Tim Johnson, took turns answering questions developed by a committee as well as queries submitted by the audience. The event was moderated by Phillip Bradshaw, a former member of the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors.

School Board incumbent Enoch C. Copeland, who is unopposed, was unable to attend because of a School Board meeting.

The questioning kicked off with an inquiry about why the candidates were seeking the seat.

“I’m very proud to have accomplished what I’ve accomplished for this district,” Gardy said,” noting the new Pioneer Elementary School and water service that has been extended to Holland.

Johnson said Gardy has “done a fine job,” but added, “Unlike Mr. Gardy, I’m not always thinking we’re headed in the right direction in this city.

“I’m running because I want to represent you guys.”

Cooperation between the City Council and School Board and funding for schools were major issues covered by several questions.

Johnson stressed the importance of communication between the two bodies.

“I’m just a regular person, like you guys, and what regular people do is talk,” he said. “There’s no excuse for the fact that we rank as low as we do as far as teacher salaries go. There seems to be a power struggle. Somehow, we’ve got to get past all that.”

Gardy said the school system has received more than half a billion dollars in the last 10 years and in that time has not increased much in enrollment. He said he hopes the task force spearheaded by Councilman Mike Duman, as well as an upcoming salary study for the schools, will accomplish something. He also said it’s a good reason to focus on the city’s credit rating, so it can borrow money at a lower rate, as well as on economic development to bring in more businesses.

“It’s the only way to try to get enough,” he said, adding later, “The one thing I have not tried to do is run the School Board.”

The candidates were also asked about potential changes in city administration.

“Right now, hopefully, the administration is going along pretty well,” Gardy said. “Right now, we have nothing going that we need to change.”

Johnson said he would not make changes right away but hoped to see a change, at least, in how the city is run, which he described as “heavy-handed.”

“The employees are scared to talk to you, because they’re scared to lose their jobs,” he said. “Overall, I think we do have administration problems.”

Asked about raises for city administrators, Johnson cut to the chase, saying it was obvious the question was about City Manager Selena Cuffee-Glenn’s January 2013 raise, which City Council members voted on without having it on the agenda ahead of time.

Johnson said Cuffee-Glenn has a “monumental” job and that she should be paid a fair amount of money. But “the way it was handled was poor,” Johnson said. “The people said no, and the city said yes.”

Gardy’s response was, “What’s done is done,” adding that Cuffee-Glenn has done a good job and has eliminated positions whose duties she now handles herself.

Asked about the city’s top challenge and how they would handle it, the two candidates again differed in their answers.

“Right now, we’re going pretty well,” Gardy said. “Our financial people say we’re in good shape. We need to maintain the course.”

Johnson, however, said the city’s diversity — from the rural areas and the villages to downtown and North Suffolk — presents a challenge.
“I think Holland has not gotten its fair share,” he said. “I don’t want to become a Chesapeake or a Virginia Beach.”

Asked about his vision for Holland, Gardy said he was going to listen to citizens about what they want. Johnson said he sees satellite offices for city functions, well-maintained homes and new residences being integral to a revitalized Holland.

On water rates, Johnson said, “There’s no question something’s got to give.” He said he wants to look at the sales of Suffolk’s lakes to neighboring cities from decades ago and see if they were legal.

“I do know it’s a huge problem, and it’s something that’s going to have to be addressed,” he said.

Gardy said the water rates are so high because assumptions made prior to 2008 about the number of new residences the city would get didn’t come to fruition when the recession hit.

“That really messed up their budget, because you didn’t have the tap fees coming in that were anticipated,” he said.

In closing, both candidates pleaded for the votes of the 30 or so in attendance.

“We’re a right fine city, and we want the opportunity to continue to grow with you,” Gardy said.

“I love our city, and that is truly why I’m doing this,” Johnson said.