One of Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ top administrators is out of contention, but controversy still swirls over Richmond’s pending appointments to the GRTC Transit System board. The City Council is set to vote Monday to appoint former Chief Administrative Officer Sheila Hill-Christian, as well as current members Linda G. Broady-Meyers and James M. Johnson, to the GRTC board of directors. Chesterfield County, which jointly owns GRTC with the city, will tap the other three members.

The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority has frozen rent subsidies for an additional 43 low-income families because of a federal funding crunch. The families were notified last week that housing vouchers issued to them no longer were valid and that they would remain indefinitely on a waiting list for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Housing Choice Voucher Program, known as Section 8.

The building heights recommended by Richmond’s new downtown master plan aren’t the only obstacles to a proposed high-rise along the James River. Before the Echo Harbour development can be considered by the City Council, the Department of Community Development is requiring the developers to provide new and revised technical plans and studies on various aspects of the project.

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones wants the city to buy the coveted site of GRTC Transit System next to the Fan District and to guide private development of the property. Tammy D. Hawley, press secretary to Jones, confirmed the city’s interest in the property, currently assessed at $3 million, and said the issue is being discussed by the boards of GRTC and the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority. She said it is unclear what type of development might be planned and whether a sale to the city will occur.

The possible appointment of Byron C. Marshall as Richmond’s chief administrative officer is drawing sharply different responses from some City Council members. Early yesterday, council members said they believed a formal request to approve Marshall’s appointment could be introduced Monday by Mayor Dwight C. Jones. But the mayor’s office said such a request is not imminent.

The singing that broke out at Richmond City Hall yesterday might as well have come from the City Council and Mayor Dwight C. Jones.