The Salamander Inn moved another step forward and Vicki Bendure reported at length on recent Fox 5 television coverage of Middleburg at the sparsely attended regular session of the Middleburg Town Council on March 9.

The council also adopted, for the first time, a formal set of written financial management guidelines, heard complaints about parking, moved to advertise antenna space for lease on the town water tower, formally published the list of candidates eligible for the upcoming Mayoral and Town Council elections, appointed Mimi Stein to the Pink Box Advisory Committee, and Town Manager Mike Casey, temporarily, to no less than three currently unfilled positions in Town government.

With no debate, and only Council Member Helen Hyre voting in the negative, the Council adopted a resolution presented at last month's meeting, to amend the Town Limits to include the property owned by Salamander Development, LLC. The adjustment, required by the Town's memorandum of understanding with Salamander, moves the Inn and Spa one step closer to a formal connection to the Town's water supply and sewer system, and the Town one step closer to receiving a new waste water treatment plant at Salamander's expense.

Vicki Bendure, whose Middleburg-based Bendure Communications provides public relations support for the town, showed highlights from a full morning of reporting from Middleburg by Fox 5's weatherman, Tony Perkins, featuring lengthy interviews with Maureen Handley of Fox Chase Farms, Turner Reuter of the Red Fox Inn, John Fitter of Piedmont Vineyards Winery, and Mayor Tim Dimos. Mayor Dimos thanked Bendure formally on behalf of the Town and its business community, noting that media coverage "doesn't just happen." Bendure estimated the cost of 30 seconds of paid commercial time on channel 5's morning show at $1,000, plus of course, the cost of production.

The Council praised, and adopted without debate, a set of financial management guidelines drawn up by a committee headed by Town Manager Mike Casey. The guidelines, the first of their kind for Middleburg, establish formally a minimum cash balance for the town's checking accounts, require the town to maintain a 3% of revenue projections contingency fund, establishes a 20% reserve fund, a new capital budget and associated fund, and mandates a debt limit of no more than 5% of annual revenue projections (half the 10% maximum allowed by State Law.)

Casey also reported on candidate filings for the May 2nd election. Vice Mayor Betsy Allen Davis and James B. Justice III are running for mayor. Running for four council seats are Frederick L. Hutchison, C. Darlene Kirk (Incumbent), Lisa Hubbard Patterson, Judith Pryor Plescow, Karen D. Robinson and Mark T. Snyder (Incumbent)

Edward ("Snooks") Swain bemoaned the new two-hour metered parking limit in the town's main shopping area, prompting comment from no less than five Council members. Betsy Davis noted that one can park forever without fear of ticket or tow, as long as one feeds the meter every two hours. Bundles Murdock noted that the Liberty Street lot is now open, quite inexpensive at $2 for eight hours, and recommended that all shop owners suggest that their employees park there, leaving the metered spaces free for customers. Darlene Kirk reassured Mr. Swain that, at the moment, there was no plan for the Middleburg Police to chalk tires or engage in other draconic forms of parking enforcement. Margaret New touted a new pocket parking meter reminder alarm, available from the Sharper Image. Eura Lewis closed the discussion, noting that the Town Planning Department should be complimented on coming up with a reasonable plan to encourage parking space turnover.

Verizon Wireless is seeking a ten year lease for space on the town water tower for a proposed wireless communications antenna. Town Council voted to advertise the opportunity to obtain a franchise to use space on the tower, and Mike Casey and Town Attorney, Elizabeth Whiting, are working to resolve a conflict between Verizon's desire for a 10-year lease and the State of Virginia's requirements that such agreements be limited to five years. Of particular concern to Whiting was Verizon's desire to address the issue with language prescribing an "automatic" five-year renewal, without Council review, of any initial five-year agreement.

Mike Casey's temporary appointment to three part-time positions - - as Town Planner, Zoning Administrator, and Town Clerk - - was approved unanimously, as Middleburg seeks candidates for the jobs.