county manager

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Santa Visits Cherrydale — More than 300 children swarmed the Cherrydale Fire Station on Sunday afternoon, taking home free presents, stuffed stockings and fresh memories of Santa Claus. The children were beneficiaries of the 80th annual Christmas celebration sponsored by the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department. — Michael Doyle

End in Sight For HOT Lanes Suit? — After more than $1 million in legal costs, could the county’s lawsuit over HOT lanes on I-395 be nearing an end? Arlington “has had several positive negotiations that could lead to a settlement outside of court,” reports Ben Giles of the Washington Examiner, citing an interview with County Attorney Stephen MacIsaac.

Libraries Dominate County Manager Online Q&A — What’s on the mind of web-savvy Arlington residents these days? If Friday’s online community chat with County Manager Barbara Donnellan is any indication, they’re quite focused on libraries. Of the 14 questions asked during the question and answer session, six were about Arlington’s libraries. See a transcript here.

Jay Fisette on the Kojo Show

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 3:30 p.m.) County Board Chairman Jay Fisette sat down with Kojo Nnamdi and NBC4’s Tom Sherwood today on Nnamdi’s radio show, The Politics Hour on WAMU 88.5 FM.

Fisette discussed board vice chair Chris Zimmerman’s decision to step down from the Metro board, the firing of former county manager Michael Brown, and Arlington’s legislative priorities for 2011.

Fisette’s interview starts at 35:30 in the recording found here.

Here’s a sampling of the interview.

On Gov. McDonnell’s Government Reform Commission:

“We all have some high hopes that the Governor’s Reform Commission will come through with some good ideas,” including a loosening of Dillon Rule restrictions.

On the proposed privatization of Virginia’s liquor wholesale and retail business:

“It really wouldn’t accomplish what it set out to do.”

On the Community Energy Plan:

“Reliability and the cost of energy are going to be a huge issues [in the future… At the federal level there’s kind of a void over the past decade or so, no one has really tackled this, so it falls to local governments.”

“We’re in the process… of adopting a plan that will set goals, targets and strategies for generating, distributing and reducing the use of energy. It will make Arlington more competitive for business in the future.”

On former county manager Michael Brown:

“After a few months it became clear to us… that it was time to ask Mr. Brown to move on… Fortunately for us, our deputy county manager [Barbara Donnellan] stepped in and has done a terrific job.”

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Open Discussion: Arlington Releases Financial Audit

By ARLnow.com

As required by law, Arlington has completed a comprehensive audit of the county’s finances for fiscal year 2010.

The audit, conducted by the accounting firm of Clifton Gunderson LLP, was just posted on the county’s web site and discussed briefly by County Manager Barbara Donnellan at Tuesday afternoon’s board meeting.

“I’m glad to report that the county has once again received an unqualified or ‘clean’ opinion from our auditors,” Donnellan said. “Once again Arlington’s fiscal management has been found to be strong.”

The 216-page report can be downloaded in PDF format here. Instead of attempting what would likely be a woefully incomplete analysis, we’ll open up the comment section to anyone who wants to examine specific sections of the document.

If we can find a couple hundred food critics, there have got to be a few accountants out there, right?

Reminder: Donnellan to Hold Budget Forum Tonight

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County Manager Barbara Donnellan will hold a public meeting tonight to discuss the county’s upcoming financial year 2012 budget.

The forum will be held from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Arlington Central Library’s auditorium (1015 North Quincy Street).

As we reported earlier, Donnellan has said that her recommended budget will likely not include any further cuts for county parks or libraries, but it will include sizable cuts in other areas.

Libraries, Parks May Avoid Cuts in Next Budget

By ARLnow.com

After two years of deep cuts, county libraries and parks may be spared in the upcoming budget process.

Speaking to the League of Women Voters last night, county manager Barbara Donnellan said she does not expect to make any cuts to the libraries or parks in her proposed budget for financial year 2012.

At the same time, however, Donnellan cautioned that with Arlington facing a $25 million budget gap, the libraries will likely not see a restoration of hours to pre-2009 or pre-2010 levels.

At one point, Donnellan reflected on her failed effort to close the Cherrydale library, which was met with considerable public outcry. She says that she learned her lesson about community attachment to libraries.

“I’m not doing it any more, I’m done,” she said. “It’s apparent to me that every library is going to stay open.”

In a question and answer session, one attendee said she was concerned that the county seems willing to allow a deterioration in the quality of services system-wide, instead of summoning the political will to close facilities when it makes practical and financial sense. Donnellan said that while the county must carefully weigh its budget priorities, current facilities must be adequately funded.

“As long as we’re going to keep them, we have to maintain them, and that takes money,” she said.

Donnellan pledged to close the current budget gap with a balance of spending cuts and revenue increases. She will host a public budget forum for residents from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 2, at the Arlington Central Library auditorium.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Be Careful Commuting This Morning — A thunderstorm packing driving rain and high winds swept through the area overnight, causing trees and power lines to fall and coating local sidewalks and roadways with wet leaves. The leaves could make for slick conditions for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers alike this morning. More on the storm damage, including this morning’s closure of George Mason Drive, here.

Whitlow’s Hopes to Open Rooftop Deck by Thanksgiving — Whitlow’s owner Greg Cahill tells TBD that he hopes to have his new rooftop bar, Wilson’s on Whitlow’s, open in one or two weeks. Cahill is working hard to open in time for Thanksgiving eve, traditionally one of the busiest nights for bars. Bring your coat.

Meet Arlington’s County Manager — Barbara Donnellan, Arlington’s (relatively) new county manager, will participate in a public forum with the local League of Women Voters tonight. Donnellan “will speak about challenges facing the County and her plans for the County’s future,” according to an invitation. The forum will be held from 6:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the third-floor county board room at 2100 Clarendon Blvd.

Arlington Officials to Discuss Secure Communities with ICE

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County Manager Barbara Donnellan and her staff will meet with officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday to discuss the county’s desire to opt-out of the Secure Communities program.

The Sun Gazette reports that the county expects to release a public statement after the meeting.

Other local jurisdictions, like Loudoun and Fauquier counties, which participate in the Secure Communities program, say it’s an effective, uncontroversial tool for removing criminal aliens, the Sun Gazette also reported today.

Board Instructs Manager to Restrain Spending

By ARLnow.com

“We are lucky to be Arlington,” county manager Barbara Donnellan said, kicking off the board’s initial guidance for the fiscal year 2012 budget.

Donnellan was referring to the fact that property values — and, thus, tax collections — have stabilized in Arlington, while other local communities continue to feel the pinch from the recession.

Even with a cautiously optimistic outlook, however, the county is still staring down a $25-35 million budget shortfall for FY 2012.

Reflecting the continued financial pressures, the board on Saturday issued budget guidance to Donnellan that was conservative in tone.

The board asked Donnellan to limit budget growth to 1.14 percent — the rate of inflation. The limit does not apply to additional spending required by the school system and as a result of the county’s commitment to four current capital projects (including a new fire station, Long Bridge Park, and the Mary Marshall Assisted Living Residence).

Donnellan expects capital projects to cost an additional $2.5 million, increases in employee compensation to cost $12.7 million, and post-employment benefits to cost an additional $2.1 million. The cost of additional student enrollment is expected to cost $8.6 million.

Donnellan says the county will likely collect an additional $13.8 million in revenue, based largely on inflation.

The board instructed Donnellan to find “any efficiencies or duplication that may exist in County programs,” as a way to save money. It also instructed Donnellan to add no new positions or programs, unless a dedicated funding source or a net cost savings can be identified.

At the same time, the board asked Donnellan to continue investing in affordable housing while preserving the “safety net for those in need,” as well as public safety and health protections.

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Donnellan Makes Two Major Appointments

By ARLnow.com

New Arlington County Manager Barbara Donnellan has appointed county chief financial officer Mark Schwartz to her former position of deputy county manager. Schwartz served as acting deputy county manager during the seven months from 2009 to 2010 that Donnellan served as acting county manager.

Schawartz, who holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and a law degree from Penn, has overseen the county’s budget and bond sales since 2005.

Also today, Donnellan appointed William F. O’Connor III as director of the Department of Environmental Services. The department manages county roads, sewers, trash services, environmental initiatives and building projects.

O’Connor had been serving as director of design and construction for Arlington Public Schools, where he has been involved with the design, planning and building of three new high schools.

O’Connor’s appointment is effective Nov. 8. Schwartz’s appointment is effective immediately.

“Mark’s extensive background in financial management, strategic planning and administration, and his strong belief in the ability of local government to effect positive change, makes him the natural choice for this key position,” Donnellan said in a statement. “Bill understands both our community and the challenges of running the County’s largest department. His wealth of experience in the public and private sectors will be invaluable to a department that is responsible for everything from capital projects to maintenance of our water, sewers and streets.”

Kelly Makes County Manager’s Resignation a Campaign Issue

By ARLnow.com

Republican Mark Kelly is hoping that the handling of county manager Michael Brown’s forced resignation will convince voters that more “diversity of opinion” is needed on the county board.

Last night, in an otherwise dry debate at the Lyon Village Civic Association’s general meeting, Kelly made the Brown issue central to his case against incumbent Democrat Chris Zimmerman.

“I want to give you one example that happened recently that I think points to the problem when one party controls every seat,” Kelly told the crowd. While saying that sometimes it’s necessary to fire people who aren’t working out, Kelly criticized the way in which board chairman Jay Fisette finally acknowledged that Brown did not simply resign for personal reasons.

“It took them a while to respond, and when they finally came clean about it, it was at the Arlington County Democratic [Committee] monthly meeting,” Kelly said. “I don’t think an announcement like that… should have been done at a partisan political meeting; I think that should have been done through official channels” like a press release or a press conference.

Zimmerman did not address the county manager issue during the debate, but he did respond to a reporter’s question afterward.

“I think that was the first opportunity [Jay Fisette] got” to talk about the county manager issue in a public forum, Zimmerman said. “It’s not like this is the White House, we just don’t go down to the press room and demand attention for a press conference.”

“I think the board did what it had to do,” Zimmerman continued. “We’re very fortunate we had [former interim county manager Barbara Donnellan] available to us… we didn’t have to do another search process.”

During the forum, Zimmerman touted the board’s accomplishments in promoting smart growth, fiscal responsibility and relatively low residential taxes.

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Fisette: Brown Wasn’t a Good Fit With Arlington

By ARLnow.com



Former Arlington County Manager Michael Brown was asked to step down by the county board after it was decided he wasn’t a good fit for the county, Jay Fisette revealed for the first time Wednesday night.

Fisette, speaking at the Arlington County Democratic Committee’s monthly meeting, acknowledged that Brown’s sudden resignation and his $110,000 severance payout left more questions than answers last week. Video of the speech was posted on YouTube by the Blue Virginia blog.

“I understand some clarity is maybe required regarding the severance payment,” the county board chairman said. “I know there’s been some conversation in the community.”

The severance “was fully consistent with the terms of his contract, and was not discretionary,” Fisette continued, contradicting the official line that Brown resigned due to his wife’s health. (His contract included a clause that required a severance payment of half his $220,000 salary in the event of termination without cause.)

As for why the board dumped the executive it hired after a seven-month, nationwide search just four and a half months into his tenure, Fisette didn’t get into much detail.

“When the board determined that Mr. Brown’s fit with our organization was not what we had hoped for, Mr. Brown was given the opportunity to submit an official resignation letter to the county board,” he said.

As for Brown’s replacement, Fisette heaped praise on long-time county employee and former interim county manager Barbara Donnellan, who was sworn in as the county’s first permanent female county manager on Friday.

“We are very fortunate to have her at the helm, and she will do us all proud,” he said.

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