| Fire
Station Plans Reviewed |
By Anne DeCecco
Observer Staff Writer |
| Representatives from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue
and Public Works departments returned to the Town Council
Tuesday to discuss the possible relocation of the Herndon
fire station. The county would like to move the fire station
from downtown Herndon to a new facility. |
| Assistant Fire Chief Daryl Louder and Teresa Lepe, a representative
from the county's public works department, last month addressed
some members of the Town Council and Planning Commission about
the project, and the two were invited to Tuesday's work session
to present the details to the entire council. |
| The previous meeting had drawn negative feedback from town
residents who disliked the new facility's suggested location
near Herndon Parkway and Monroe Street because it could result
in the loss of green space at Stanton Park, as well as an
increase in noise and activity in a residential neighborhood.
|
| Tuesday night's presentation was televised by HCTV and a
group of about 25 residents attended. Louder said he and colleagues
have researched locations for a new fire station for about
16 years and have looked at about 30 sites, but none has panned
out. |
| Supervisor Joan DuBois (R-Dranesville) and Chairman Gerry
Connolly said there was an urgent need to replace the town's
fire station, which is 57 years old and outdated for current
needs. Louder and Connolly said they were willing to work
with council to find a location and site plan for the new
fire station that would be acceptable for all parties involved.
Councilman Bill Tirrell said he agreed that there is an urgency
to continue the discussion, especially with an upcoming public
facilities bond, and suggested they schedule a follow-up meeting.
|
| In other business, Anne Curtis, public information officer
for the town, updated the council on plans to survey citizens
on town services and officials, as well as demographic information.
According to Curtis, about 300 residences would be contacted
at random by phone to participate in the survey. The project
is scheduled to conclude in October with a comprehensive report
and analysis. |
| The council also reviewed plans to update its emergency
management plan. Town Attorney Richard Kaufman said Fairfax
County is updating its emergency plan, so the town needs to
decide whether it wants to integrate into the county's plan
or create its own. Kaufman said he, Acting Town Manager Art
Anselene and Chief Toussaint Summers agree that the town should
integrate into the county's emergency plan because it would
benefit from the county's resources, personnel and funds.
He also said it is imperative that the town establishes a
chain of command that would take effect in an emergency situation. |
| Following up on a plan created in March to establish rental
inspection districts in town, Building Official John Orrison
announced the first inspection districts. These include the
900 block of Branch Drive and Park Avenue and homes from 461
to 496 of Virginia Avenue and 501 to 538 of Dakota Drive.
Orrison said rental inspection districts are meant to protect
the health, safety and welfare of residents, as well as to
preserve the housing stock. |
| During the work session, Director of Human Resources Linda
Simmons and Senior Project Planner Kay Robertson said to the
council that the town needs a "career path progression program"
that would prepare town staff to take on leadership positions
as more employees retire and resign. According to Robertson,
10 percent of employees are eligible for full retirement in
the next three years and 12 more percent are eligible for
early retirement. However, Simmons said, they have found that
most employees are not equipped to step up into leadership
roles, and with the growing number of vacant positions, the
town needs to prepare employees for career growth. This would
be an ongoing project that would go into effect around September
2008. |
| The Town Council also reviewed resolutions: |
| • authorizing a lawsuit against Higinio Alejandro Hernandez
and Marta Luz Reyes Beltran with regard to a reported case
of overcrowding at 648 Herndon Parkway; |
| • awarding a customer relationship management contract to
the Timmons Group; |
| • approving an agreement between the town and VDOT to reflect
the actual cost of widening South Elden Street, which is $703,448;
|
| • removing the Industrial Strength Theater from the Department
of Parks and Recreation fee schedule, as well as clarifying
tennis court reservation policy and setting a fee policy for
rental of picnic shelters at Runnymede Park; |
| • authorizing the town's participation in the Town Association
of Northern Virginia; |
| • authorizing the transfer of an additional $7,500 in General
Fund vacancy savings to cover employment recruitment advertising;
|
| • initiating and referring to the Planning Commission a
zoning ordinance text amendment that would allow for a reduction
in required parking to accommodate and inter-parcel connection. |
