BV City Manager Stepping Down Steve Webb Also Submits Resignation
The new year is beginning with changes in leadership in Buena Vista city government that are apart from the new mayor and two new members of City Council who were elected in November.
City Manager Jason Tyree submitted his resignation last Tuesday, Jan. 6, two days before City Council’s first meeting of 2026 on Thursday. And, one of the first actions of the new City Council during what was its reorganizational meeting Thursday was to accept the resignation, effective immediately, of one of its members, Steve Webb.
City Council will have 45 days to appoint a new member to temporarily fill this sudden vacancy. The person who is appointed will serve until a special election is held to coincide with the Nov. 3 general elections later this year. The person elected will then serve the remaining one year of the term.
Mayor Jesse Lineberry presided over his first City Council meeting Thursday; newly elected members Stephanie Noel-Branch and Amy Gilliam took their seats for the first time.
Tyree gave a 90-day notice in his resignation letter, per the terms of his employment contract with the city. His resignation will take effect April 6.
“I feel like it’s a good time for a change,” Tyree told The News-Gazette last week. “I have a couple of irons in the fire; I can’t say what they are right now. It’s a good time [for the resignation], with the change of mayors, with the changes on City Council.” Tyree has been Buena Vista’s city manager five years. The Amherst County native came here in March of 2021 from Buchanan, where he had been town manager three years.
He described his decision to step down from his leadership position in Buena Vista as “one of the most difficult I’ve ever had to make.” He said he plans to continue to live in Buena Vista. His older son graduated from Parry McCluer High School two years ago and he expects to see his younger son graduate from PMHS in three years.
Tyree said he plans to pursue a doctorate at either Liberty University or Virginia Tech, the colleges from which he holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees, respectively.
He said he feels the city has accomplished much during his tenure as city manager. The city got its golf course debt settled. Economic development is on the upswing, with Modine Manufacturing planning a $19.6 million expansion. Magnolia Square has been developed downtown, and a streetscape project is underway in the 21st Street corridor. Tyree expects federal and state funding to be forthcoming for a major upgrade to the city’s wastewater treatment plant.
Any success he’s had in directing the city government, Tyree said, he attributes directly to his staff. “I can’t get over how much they do with so little help,” he remarked. Among those who have been most impactful, he said, are Kristina Ramsey, director of economic development, and Tom Roberts, director of community development. “Their work has been most remarkable. I can’t say enough about the resiliency of city staff. They love the city and want to see the best for the city. I can’t see how they do all this with so little help.”
As has been the case for many years, the city still faces daunting financial challenges, Tyree acknowledges. He notes that the city is to begin its budget deliberations for the next fiscal year with a potential shortfall in revenues that could approach $1 million. The city was recently notified of a change in its composite index that could lead to the school system getting $400,000 less in state aid next year. Funding is coming to an end for the city’s participation in the School Resource officer program.
As for the process to select his successor, Tyree told Council this past Thursday he would present options that could be considered at Council’s next meeting, this Thursday. Council could look to the Berkeley Group, which provides municipalities with a list of retired administrators who are willing to serve on an interim basis. Or, Council could choose to appoint someone from within city’s staff, also on an interim basis.
Asked if he had talked to anyone about filling the position temporarily, Tyree said he had but wasn’t sure if he was ready to name the individual publicly, at which point Police Chief Wayne Handley stepped forward and said he is the person with whom the city manager had spoken.
Handley, who has notified the city of his pending retirement as police chief on June 30, said Tyree “spoke to me, and if the Council deems that this is the best course of action for the city, my response to the city manager was that I’m willing to serve.”
Handley said he and his wife are planning to stay in the area following his retirement and that he is starting two new companies. He said his assistant chief, Dave Clements, is ready to take charge of the police department, should Handley step into the interim city manager’s role.
At tomorrow’s (Thursday, Jan. 15) City Council meeting, the processes for selecting an interim city manager and filling the Council vacancy temporarily will be agenda items.
Contemplating his upcoming retirement, Tyree said, “It’s time for a reset. We made a lot of progress with former mayors Bill Fitzgerald and Tyson Cooper. I hope this continues with Mayor Jessie Lineberry.”
As for himself, he added, “I’m looking forward to being on the other side of the table [at City Council meetings].”
