| RCA
Drafts Schedule For Town Review |
By Erick Soricelli
Observer Staff Writer |
| The Reston Citizens Association board of directors wants
to have a charter incorporating Reston as a town signed by
the Virginia General Assembly in 2006, with a community referendum
on the issue following as soon as possible. |
| That's according to a draft schedule released at the RCA
board meeting Monday, April 18, as part of the group's efforts
to incorporate Reston. Board members have said Reston as a
town would streamline government and give the community a
more effective voice in regional issues through a mayor or
town council. |
| Late last year, RCA updated 1988 studies comparing governance
options of Reston's status as an unincorporated area, a small
tax district or as an incorporated town or city. The board
has tentatively scheduled a public meeting for June at a date
and site to be determined to review the town proposal. |
| This is sandwiched between the board's plans throughout
2005 for a series of meetings about incorporating with leaders
from Reston Association, the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce,
the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Reston's representatives
in the General Assembly. |
| RCA board president Mike Corrigan said the schedule could
be done with assistance from local and state officials. "When
we talk to the citizens, we're reflecting the concerns of
RA, the county and the chamber of commerce," said Hunters
Woods director Jan Bradshaw. |
| The board holds it 2005 elections July 9 and 10 during Reston
Festival. It wants to conduct a poll this year to determine
the level of support for incorporating. Corrigan said the
community meeting should be held before the poll. "If the
community doesn't want to do this now, we won't do it," he
said. |
| RCA at-large director Debra Steppel said the board should
meet with state Sen. Janet Howell (D-32nd) and Del. Ken Plum
(D-36th) after the poll results are determined. |
| The board in September will ask for county supervisors'
approval of the town charter and an RA referendum on the role
of a town. Corrigan said the issue could be attached to a
referendum planned for RA's governing documents revisions,
which hasn't been scheduled. |
| RCA board members want to present their proposal to the
Reston Community Center board of governors, but expect their
say will be limited. Both community centers at Hunters Woods
and Lake Anne are run by the county. |
| "I would anticipate, if we got along on this schedule, the
RCC and RA elections would have this as a significant issue,"
Corrigan said. |
