The imminent deadline for a yes or no decision on the proposed Salamander Inn connection to the town water system dominated the December session of the Middleburg Town Council, and once more, no decision was forthcoming. Outrage and delay were the order of the day.

During the "Public Comments" phase of the meetings, any member of the public may address the council, and Thursday night's comments, both for and against the project, were both passionate and pointed.

In particular, new questions were raised about the "true nature" of Dr. Johnson's offer to fund major improvements to Middleburg's water system if a connection is extended to the Salamander Inn.

For months, the Council has described the Salamander offers as too vague and undefined to justify Council Action. At the November meeting, Jeff Zell, Salamander Inn project manager, was more precise, promising that $1.8 million for capital water improvements to the system would be forthcoming if the council voted to connect the Inn. At the same meeting, Zell also informed the Council that Salamander's $1.8 million offer would be formally submitted to the Council, in writing, in the form of a letter to Mayor Tim Dimos.

At this month's meeting, however, Mayor Dimos revealed publicly that no such letter had been sent or received. According to Dimos, the Inn's representative had asked for more time to create a formal written proposal, and that the Mayor, on his own authority, had granted the request. "I can give you some encouragement that dialogue will continue," said Mayor Dimos.

Dimos's announcement produced immediate and vocal reaction, including charges that he had overstepped his authority. "I'm aghast that somebody who applied to you then asks you to speak for the entire council and that you did it," said Valerie Kelly. "This application should be treated like any other application." Comparing the Council with the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, Kelly quipped, "This is a town government that ought to operate like a town government, not an old boys club."

Kathleen Lyons, who lives near the Salamander construction site, accused the project's manager of threatening the Council. Referring to Salamander's initial assertion that its construction schedule absolutely required a yes or no decision on town water no later than December, Lysons noted: "Last meeting was the first time actual numbers were presented, and they were presented like a bully."

Others spoke with equal passion on behalf of the project, asserting forcefully that a Middleburg water connection and potential annexation of the Salamander Inn property would be beneficial to the town. "I am in favor of what I think Dr. Johnson is offering," said lifelong Middleburg resident Ethel Foster.

Several speakers noted that the Salamander offer would have a profound and positive effect on Middleburg's aging, leaking and potentially unsafe water system, and would bring with it the possibility of reducing the town's constantly increasing water fees.

Noting that Dr. Johnson's offer to help with the cost of revamping the wastewater system would probably lower use fees and retard their growth, Sonny Underwood said, "I think we should open our arms to Dr. Johnson. Big taxes are coming, and water bills dropping would be a big help."

Middleburg resident Reggie Dawson charged that the council has "betrayed their constituency" by moving too slowly on the issue. "Just discuss it like politicians are supposed to do. If you don't want to discuss it, you are misrepresenting your oath of office," said Dawson.

No decision on the Salamander connection will be forthcoming until January. A new, formal variation of the $1.8 million dollar offer is reportedly being drafted by the Salamander legal staff for presentation in time for an early 2005 decision.

Christmas Parade

On a happier note, Mayor Dimos opened the December session of the Town Council meeting by recognizing the efforts of those involved with the Middleburg Christmas parade, pronouncing the event a "tremendous success" with "the largest crowd ever." The Mayor specifically expressed the town's special thanks to a long list of volunteers, including locals DeeDee Hubbard and Reggie Dawson of the Middleburg Business Association and Willard Scott, who generously served as the parade's celebrity announcer. For his efforts, Mr. Scott graciously accepted a gift basket assembled from local businesses. Council member Eura Lewis estimated that the Pink Box, Middleburg's tourist information center, "served 2000 children cookies before we stopped counting."

The Next Generation of Water Customers

Meetings of the Middleburg Town Council are often attended by a wide range of people, from representatives of environmental groups to managers of multimillion-dollar development projects. In recent months, however, a younger element has been present at the council meetings, thanks to the efforts of Hill School teacher Don Woodruff.

The teacher has brought three to four students to the last few council meetings to watch the council debate the intricacies of water utility reform. "Every eighth grader is going to come once... We're here to see democracy in action," said Woodruff.