Volume XXXII, Issue 7

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Message from the Chairman

I would like to start off this month by thanking our Sentinel editor, Heather Martin, for her quick response to our needs for the February Sentinel. Heather was in the middle of moving, had lost her high speed internet connection, and relied on a friend’s computer. If you ever have a need for a newsletter, contact Heather, she’s great!

STONEYBROOKE DIRECTORY
The Stoneybroooke Directory was last updated in the fall of 2004.  It's time to do it again and Stoneybrooke resident Marie Ernst has been hard at work reviewing the information and getting quotes for printing.  If you would like to opt out of the directory or you need to update information, please contact Marie at .  We request that you send an email, so Marie can cut paste updates and we will have a record of your request.  If you do not have email, please call Marie at 703-765-5986.  In addition, we will need assitance distributing the directory.  If you can take a small portion of Stoneybrooke for delivery, please contact Marie.

TRASH COLLECTION & COMMUNITY PARKING DISTRICT
Regarding trash collection, American Disposal has agreed to change their pick-up days from Tuesday and Friday to Monday and Thursday. This will align all three haulers in Stoneybrooke to picking up on the same days. Haulers who pick up items on Wednesday will continue to pick up those items on that day. American Disposal will contact their current customers to ensure you know the date the new pick-up days will begin.

This brings us to where we want to be, at least in part. While there are residents who would like to further reduce the number of days trash is collected in the community, and those who would also like to have special pickups included in their trash collection, we have at least reduced the number of days trash cans will be on our curbsides from five to three. Due to this, the SCA Board has voted to again put the Sanitary District to a vote of the full membership at our next SCA meeting on May 17. The vote this time will be to rescind the vote of January 18, 2007.

Regarding the community parking district, I will not be sending a letter to Dana Kauffman’s office to begin the petition process at this time. I recently started a new job job and continue to work as an accountant/tax preparer on a part-time basis. As you can imagine, I am quite busy this time of year. As the end of the tax season will be just prior to the SCA elections in May, I am inclined to turn this issue over to the new board to have a fresh look and make decisions on what to do.

Speaking of the new board, below is a letter I released to Stoneybrooke via email in February.

MY FUTURE WITH THE SCA
Dear Stoneybrooke Residents:

I am writing to inform you that I will not seek reelection as the Chairman of the Stoneybrooke Citizen’s Association in the elections to be held this coming May. I am letting you know of my decision now so that anyone who might like to run for the office will have time to consider their decision and let us know.

I have, for the most part, enjoyed serving you. I believe we accomplished a lot over the last five years. I had every intention of staying on for as long as you would have had me however; I believe the community will be better served by fresh ideas and new energy. I am, quite simply, out of gas.

For those of you who have thoughts of chairing the SCA, the by-laws are silent on the procedure for the announcing of one’s candidacy for office or the length of time for candidacy. Thus, the following procedure will be used.

Anyone who intends to run for office, for any of the five board positions, must inform me no later than April 30. This date is chosen so that your name and short bio can be included in the May Sentinel. The May Sentinel will be released on approximately May 5th, give or take a day or two. You are welcome to announce earlier and have your intentions and information included in either the March or April Sentinels. I will need your info no later than the end of the month before the issues are released. The elections will be held on Thursday, May 17th at our scheduled SCA meeting. A voting form will be included in the May Sentinel and, as usual, you must be a member of the SCA to vote. You will, per our By-laws, be able to vote by proxy. We do not have a provision in our by-laws for write-in candidates thus; write-in votes will not be counted.

Per the SCA by-laws, directors of the board shall be members of the association.

Please note that the SCA meeting originally scheduled for June has been moved up to May to comply with our by-laws.

The results of the election will be announced at the meeting. This will allow us to include the results in the June Sentinel, which is the last issue of the association’s fiscal year before the two-month summer break.

As you know, a quorum is necessary for business to be transacted at SCA meetings. Thus, 20 members (not residents) must be present (all residents are welcome). If we do not have a quorum, the election cannot be held. Should this happen, our By-laws state, “Directors shall hold office until August 31 each year, and thereafter until his/her successor has been elected and qualified.”

Likewise, if no one decides to run for the office, the same will follow. I would continue as Chairman until August 31, and thereafter until my successor has been elected and qualified.

I do not intend to do that. If no one decides to run, or we do not have quorum to hold the election, I will, per our By-laws, offer my resignation effective on a date of my choice. In that case, the vice-chairman would run the association until a new chairman is elected.

Also note that our By-laws are silent on the inclusion of proxy votes in the count needed to make a quorum. Thus, we need to take the safe route and show up on election night.

I do not know the intentions of the other members of the Board. Their intentions will be announced as they see fit or, certainly, no later than the May Sentinel. Should the other current officers decide not to run for reelection and also tender their resignations, and should no other candidates step forward, the current board will meet to agree on a dormancy plan for the association until such a time as new candidates come forward, and an election is held.

I am very hopeful that new energy and fresh ideas will step forward to continue the progress we’ve made.

Best Regards,
Mike

Message from Supervisor Dana Kauffman

Over the next few months, several meetings are taking place that I encourage you to attend—they will address issues that have a direct relationship with the quality of life in our neighborhoods.
 
The It’s Your Turn Town Meeting!
Mark your calendars for Saturday morning, March 24. That’s the date of the Lee District annual town meeting—with a twist. This year, ‘It’s Your Turn.’ In a talking-head-free environment, you’ll be able to ask your toughest questions about transportation, property taxes, zoning violations, public safety, schools, development, environment, to name only a few. Senior county staff and representatives from the police and Fairfax County Public Schools, among others, will be on hand to answer your questions—no speeches, no power point presentations—just hard hitting Q and A.

It’s Your Turn at the Franconia Governmental Center (6121 Franconia Road) begins at 9 am with coffee and doughnuts and the opportunity to visit a number of community displays. Q and A begins at 10 am and ends at noon. Hope to see you there.

In January, I addressed the growing issue of neighborhood stability at a meeting of the Board of Supervisors. If you have not seen a copy, please call my office at 703-971-6262 or send an email to . We’ll be happy to send you a copy. I am also hosting a Lee District Neighborhood Resource Fair to help folks who are looking for solutions and support for neighborhood problems like trash, parking, and property maintenance? Neighbors, civic association members, and HOA representatives are all invited. Come get helpful advice and information from County experts who can help you address tough neighborhood issues. The Resource Fair is on April 21 at the Franconia Governmental Center. Register from 9-9:30 am; from 9:30-11:30 am, visit County displays and talk with experts.

Fairfax County Budget Public Hearings
On February 26, the County Executive released his proposed fiscal year 2008 budget. Between now and April 30 when the Board of Supervisors will adopt a budget, there will be much discussion and revision. If you would like to testify at one of the public hearings (April 9, 10, and 11 at 7 pm at the main County government center), please register with the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors. You can call the Clerk at 703-324-3151 or email to nancy.vehrs@fairfaxcounty.gov. Detailed budget information is available on the County’s website at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dmb/.