Council to honor older Americans, bicyclists, Municipal clerks and more

For many localities across the United States, meetings of city and county legislatures provide an opportunity for the community to come together to recognize all manner of people, places, movements, and other items worth of a proclamation.

At their meeting on May 4, Charlottesville City Council will take time for six such resolutions ranging from one that marks May as Older Americans month to one that celebrates May 3 through May 9 as the 57th Annual Professional Municipal Clerks week as recognized by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. 

“Initiated in 1969 by IIMC and endorsed by all of its members throughout the United States, Canada and 15 other countries, the week is a time of celebration and reflection on the importance of the Clerk’s office,” reads their website. 

This one is the final one in the slate that Council will take up beginning at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers and the only one that does not have a resolution attached. 

The first is to recognize May as Older Americans Month. 

“Charlottesville recognizes that older Americans improve our community through intergenerational relationships, community service, civic engagement, and many other activities,” reads that resolution. 

Next up is a recognition of Bike Month which kicked off on Friday. 

“Traveling by bicycle has been proven to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce pollution associated with vehicular travel, and offer significant mental and physical health benefits to bicyclists themselves,” reads the resolution. 

The third resolution marks National Police Week from May 11 to May 16.

“Since the first recorded death in 1786, more than 24,500 law enforcement officers in the United States have made the ultimate sacrifice and been killed in line of duty, including 3 members of the Charlottesville Police Department and 2 members of the Virginia State Police Department, assisting the City of Charlottesville,” reads that resolution. 

The fourth and fifth recognize month-long efforts to find solutions for two crippling conditions. 

“Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease that can cause severe damage to the tissue and organs in the body,” reads the resolution for Lupus Awareness Month. 

“Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive fatal neurodegenerative disease in which a person’s brain loses connection with their muscles, slowly reducing a person’s ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe,” reads that resolution. 

The regular meeting of Charlottesville City Council meets begins at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers at 4 p.m. The meeting is televised across multiple platforms. (meeting overview)

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