| Labor
Site Brings Herndon, Loudoun Closer |
| |
By Anne DeCecco
Observer Staff Writer |
| Herndon Mayor Steve DeBenedittis, Vice Mayor Dennis Husch
and Acting Town Manager Art Anselene met Monday with Loudoun
County Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott York, Supervisor
Stephen Snow and County Administrator Kirby Bowers to discuss
the Herndon Official Workers Center on Sterling Road. |
| The meeting took place in Herndon at the request of the
Loudoun officials, some of whom said in interviews last week
they had concerns about the site property, which straddles
the dividing line between Herndon and Loudoun County. According
to DeBenedittis, he and the other Herndon representatives
explained the current status of the day labor site and the
town's plan to find a new operator who will serve only legally
present workers. |
| The meeting follows the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors'
unanimous passing of a resolution to crack down on illegal
immigration in the county. Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio, who
was the main proponent of the resolution, was not present
at the Herndon meeting Monday. |
| York said last week he wanted to meet with Herndon officials
"to see where the mayor and the council is at regarding the
site." |
| "We were concerned on our end about the Loudon County side
of the property," Bowers said Wednesday. "There were some
reports of the day labor traffic using the Rock Hill drive
and of course we would object to that." |
| However, Bowers said he and his colleagues found that the
town's plan to find a new operator who would check legal status
of all workers is a positive thing. He said the Herndon officials
assured them there would be no activity on the Loudoun side
of the site. Bowers described the meeting as "constructive"
and "positive." |
| "We left there knowing that we both need to work together
and continue to work together to address the day labor situation
because it's not going to go away," Bowers said. "I would
expect as a result of this meeting there's going to be more
dialogue." |
| "I think the meeting really went great," DeBenedittis said
Tuesday. "It was just good to meet with them and talk with
them and let them know that we're considering our neighbors
in Loudoun County in the decisions we make." |
| DeBenedittis said there is no date set for a future meeting
"but the plan is to keep in touch." |
| Husch said he thought the Herndon and Loudoun officials
shared "similar concerns" about having "a day worker hiring
site that serves illegal aliens." |
| "It was very cordial and very frank and we identified our
mutual concerns and agreed to continue to coordinate and work
together to deal with those issues related to the day worker
hiring site," Husch said. |
| "We share a border and we need to be talking about what
we're doing and what they're doing that affects our neighbors.
And I think we're able to do that." |
| York, Snow and Anselene did not return calls before The
Observer's deadline Wednesday. |
