Culpeper council asks interaction committee to discuss warming-shelter coordination with county

Councilman Short asked the council to place several items on the agenda for the Town-County Interaction Committee, including operations at the Wallman center, local homeless services, street-level panhandling and the possibility of a county-run shelter.

A council member explained that the Town-County Interaction Committee has been reactivated to meet quarterly so the town and county can coordinate more effectively on issues that affect both jurisdictions. The speaker said the county has suggested both the town and county contribute financially to the current warming shelter and that questions remain about why a 24/7 shelter has not been assembled locally in recent years. The discussion was framed as a request to discuss strategy at the committee level rather than as a directive or formal vote.

Town staff clarified the process for sending items to Interaction: matters must be sent by the full council rather than originating solely from a committee, and the interaction committee has tentatively scheduled a meeting in December. Council members agreed that committee-level discussion would allow the town to develop a position before bringing recommendations to the full council.