October 3, 2007

COMMENTARY

A flyer stuck under my automobile windshield wiper last Sunday morning while I was at church asked that I “Sign the petition to have a referendum on Reston Town status.” I knew that such a campaign was underway, but I had never read the wording of the petition. The signers ask the Virginia legislature to authorize a referendum among the voters of Small Tax District #5 “to vote on whether Reston should be incorporated as a town.” While I always appreciate hearing from my constituents through a petition or otherwise, a petition in this instance is not needed as the Virginia Constitution in Article VII, Section 2 provides that a majority of voters in an area must approve a change in the form of local government.

Virginia does not provide for advisory referenda. A referendum question of whether Reston should become a town would require an explicit charter to be proposed in order for voters to determine their preference. I understand that a conceptual plan for a town has been talked about, but a significant number of major issues need resolution before a bill can be presented to the legislature or to local residents for a vote. Senator Janet Howell and I spelled out these requirements in a letter to the town proponents in November, 2005.

Several major hurdles must be overcome to incorporate Reston as a town. Virginia law prohibits the organization of towns in counties whose population density exceeds 200 persons per square mile (Section 15.2-3602) or that has the urban county executive form of government as in Fairfax County (Section 15.2-3605). Substantial arguments would need to be offered as to why these sections of the Code designed to prevent additional layers of government would need to be repealed or an exception be granted.

The General Assembly has provided guidance to the judiciary on criteria to use in approving new towns through a judicial process. Courts are required to find “proof” that “it will be in the interest of the inhabitants within the proposed town; the general good will be promoted; and the services required by the community cannot be provided by the establishment of a sanitary district, or under other arrangements provided by laws, or through extension of existing services provided by the county in which the community is located.” Legislators will want the same kind of information on a proposed town charter for Reston as well as an explanation of what has changed that would make Reston want a new form of government since they rejected a proposed form of town governance in the early 1980's. I would not recommend using the argument before the General Assembly that having another layer of government would save people money because the potential for such savings in the future is dubious. Legislators spend much of their time looking for ways to curtail government because of its growth and expense. And be careful about using the argument that the town should be able to curtail growth. Counties, cities and towns have been trying unsuccessfully to get additional powers to control growth for decades. The Virginia legislature tilts in favor of developers and private landowners in these debates.

Counties are the basic unit of local government in Virginia. Historically when population centers developed at crossroads or seaports and needed services beyond the capacity of the counties to provide, towns were formed and as they grew they became cities. As counties have become more urbanized, their powers have been extended such as Fairfax County with the urban county executive form of government. Most of the 203 towns in Virginia trace their history to the nineteenth century. The half-dozen towns incorporated most recently in the mid-1900's have an average population of 485. Blacksburg with a population of nearly 40,000 is the largest town in Virginia, but towns generally have a couple of thousand residents. Reston with a population over 60,000 would dwarf all other towns in the Commonwealth and may actually find itself strapped by a form of government intended for much smaller jurisdictions. City status was designed for the most densely populated areas.

Once the proponents of a town have concurrence with Fairfax County, Reston Association, Reston Community Center, and community and business leaders on who will be doing what in the proposed town, a bill could be introduced in the legislature, and a referendum considering that new form of governance could be held. In the meantime, a more productive use of time might be spent clarifying what an additional layer of government would provide to the residents of Reston that are not currently provided by Fairfax County. A petition could then be circulated asking Fairfax County to bring those services to our community.

Delegate Ken Plum's Weekly "Virginia Report"
on Reston Comcast Channel 28

Tonight – Wednesday, October 3 at 10:30 p.m. – Tom Whipple, Association for the Study of Peak Oil & Gas – "Reeducating Ourselves About Energy"

Tuesday, October 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, October 10 at 10:30 p.m. – Russ Monllos and Tom Pecoraro of Students, Adults, Faculty, Educating Drivers (S.A.F.E-D.) – "Preventing Teen Driving Tragedies"

Re-Election Campaign

Ken is a candidate for re-election to the House of Delegates on November 6, 2007. To ask Ken a question about the issues, e-mail kenplum@aol.com. To contribute electronically to his campaign, go to www.kenplum.com.

Announcements

The Fairfax League of Women Voters will address the topic of immigration at its meetings in October and November at 12 locations throughout Fairfax County. The League's study materials and discussions which are part of the organization's nationwide look at the topic this fall, will help establish the League's position on legislative proposals affecting immigration and immigrants at all governmental levels. The Reston evening unit will meet at the Reston Museum at Lake Anne on Wednesday nights, October 10 and November 14, at 7:30 p.m. Guests are welcome. Study materials for the meetings can be found at www.LWV-fairfax.org. Call 703.319.4114 for more information.

Governor Timothy M. Kaine has announced an "Own Your Future" program, a statewide, multimedia campaign to encourage Virginians to plan ahead for their long-term care needs. Virginians can request a free "Own Your Future" DVD that focuses on long-term care planning. It includes information about Medicare and Medicaid as well as tips on aging well. Also available is the Long-term Care Planning Kit, which highlights specific Virginia services and other valuable resources to help in planning for the future. To order the DVD and Long-term Care Planning Kit, or to learn more about "Own Your Future," visit www.longtermcare.gov or call 1-866-752-6582.

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VOTER REGISTRATION AND ABSENTEE VOTING:

The deadline to register to vote for the November 6, 2007, General Election is 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 9, 2007. For additional information, call the Registrar's office at 703.222.0776 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eb.

In Person Absentee Voting is available NOW at the Office of Elections, Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323, Fairfax. In Person Absentee Voting will also be available at Fairfax County's seven satellite locations including the North County Government Center, 12000 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston, beginning Wednesday, October 17.

You can also vote absentee by mail, but you must submit an application for an absentee ballot by October 30 at 6:00 p.m. It is recommended that you send in your application well ahead of the October 30 deadline to guarantee that you will receive your absentee ballot in time to vote and return it before the November 6 election. All mailed absentee ballots must be received in the Electoral Board office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.

Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eb for information about Absentee Voting and to download an application to vote absentee.

Calendar of Events

The State Fair of Virginia will be held September 27 through October 7 at the Richmond Raceway Complex. Visit www.statefairva.org for information about your favorite State Fair events including rides on teh Midway, concert schedule, livestock competitions, and blue ribbon exhibits.

Another sales tax holiday is coming up! From October 5 to October 8 both state and local sales tax are not to be charged when you purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products that cost $2500 or less. The following products are eligible: ceiling fans, compact fluorescent light bulbs, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, programmable thermostats, refrigerators, and room air conditioners. ENERGY STAR qualified products use 30% less energy than conventional models without sacrificing features, style or comfort.

The James River Green Building Council will present "Re-Nature by Design: Overcoming Nature Deficit Disorder in Our Communities" on Friday, October 12, 2007, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond. More information about the symposium can be found at www.jrgbc.org.

THE RESTON HOME TOUR – Showcasing Reston's Savory Style on October 13, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Enjoy a self-guided tour of five extraordinary private homes in Reston's unique neighborhoods. Ticket Prices: Until October 5, $20; October 6-13, $30; Groups of 10 or more, $20 each. Tickets are now on sale at Reston Museum and more Reston venues posted on www.restonmuseum.org.

This year's Commonwealth of Virginia Energy & Sustainability (COVES) Conference will be held on October 16-18 at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA. Visit www.covesva.org for registration and conference details.

National Constitutional Convention: A Call to Reform, a national conversation on the U.S. Constitution and needed changes, is sponsored by the University of Virginia Center for Politics and will be held on October 19 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. Register at www.centerforpolitics.org.

The "2007 National Conference on the Creative Economy – Successful Companies, Engaged Communities" will be held October 24-25 at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner. Speakers include Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class; Thomas Friedman, author of The World is Flat; and Alvin Toffler, author of Future Shock. Register at www.creativeeconomies.org.

Join friends, family, and colleagues for a community-wide day of service on Saturday, October 27, for the annual VolunteerFest 2007 sponsored by Volunteer Fairfax. Help make your community a better place and join more than 600 individuals who will volunteer at schools, nonprofits, libraries, and parks in Fairfax County. For more information and to sign up, visit www.volunteerfairfax.org.

The Greater Washington Board of Trade's 2007 Potomac Conference will be "Green as a Competitive Advantage" held on Monday, October 29, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Key Bridge Marriott, 1401 Lee Highway, Arlington, and on Tuesday, October 30, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H Street NW, Washington, DC. This conference will gather regional business, government, and civic leaders to develop a regional leadership agenda that positions our region at the forefront of sustainability, environmental protection, and "green" business. Call 202.857.5970 or visit www.bot.org.

Attend the Family Day Care Provider Professional Development Conference on Tuesday, October 30, at the Waterford at Fair Oaks, 12025 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax. For more information visit www.infanttoddler.com.

The Center for Multicultural Human Services presents "We Are America Now: A Celebration of Immigrant Contributions to our Community" on Friday, November 2, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the McLean Hilton. Visit www.cmhs.org for information about nominations for leadership awards to be presented at this event and to register.

Teen Driving SafeD Day – "One Day to Save the Rest of the Days of Your Life" – will take place Saturday, November 3, at the Fairfax County Government Center. Federal, state, local, and private agencies and organizations will be setting up displays, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and be presenting seminars to teens and their parents on the issues relating to teen driving safety. Visit www.TeenDrivingSafeD.org for more information.

The Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council will host a one-day regional conference, "Turning a New Leaf," on Friday, November 9, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Northern Virginia Community College's Annandale campus. The conference will feature tracks on conservation landscapes, green development, and creative stormwater management. Topics include eco-friendly lawns, native alternatives to traditional plantings, backyard forests, rain gardens, stream restoration techniques, and public-private partnerships for green development.  Registration has begun. Visit chesapeakelandscape.org for more details.

The Virginia Recycling Association will hold its Annual Meeting of the Members on Friday, November 9, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in Charlottesville. To join the VRA and/or register for the Annual Meeting, visit www.varecycles.org or call the VRA at 804.302.4231.

Citizens may review and comment on potential ("candidate") transportation projects and programs to be included in the Commonwealth Transportation Board's Six-Year Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2009-2014. The meeting will be held on November 13, 6:00 p.m., at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Contact Laura Southard at Laura.Southard@VDOT.Virginia.gov or call 804.370.8109 for more information.

Attend the "Development and Urban Forest: Discovering Common Ground" conference on Friday, November 16, 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Algonkian Conference Center at Algonkian Regional Park, 47001 Fairway Driver, Sterling, VA. For registration information, contact Becky Woodson at becky.woodson@dot.virginia.gov.

Authorized and Paid for by Kenneth R. Plum

Delegate Kenneth R. Plum | 2073 Cobblestone Lane | Reston | VA | 20191