Middleburg's new Town Attorney, Angela Plowman, and the Town's new Police Chief, A.J. Panebianco made their first formal appearances at a regular meeting of the Middleburg Town Council on Thursday, April 12, 2012.

Plowman thanked Council once again for their decision, noted that she had already had the pleasure of working with Town Administrator Martha Semmes in Purcellville, and said she looked forward to working with Council and staff.

Chief Bill Klugh introduced his replacement, Anthony J. ("A.J.") Panebianco. The new Chief, in town for an early start on getting to know his new officers and the town, expressed his thanks for the opportunity and noted how much he and his wife, Amy were looking forward to getting to know Middleburg.

Minutes earlier Mayor Betsy Davis had presented outgoing Town Attorney Liz Whiting with a crystal vase and kind words in appreciation of her many years of service at a party held in her honor in Council Chambers.

Revised General Orders

Attending his last regular Council Meeting, outgoing Chief Bill Klugh, presented for council review his latest draft of revised General Orders for the Middleburg Police Department.

Most noteworthy was the formalization of the department's chain of command and the duties of the department's Senior Police Officer, a new rank now held for the first time by Officer Mike Prince.

Henceforth the Chief of Police will still be hired and fired by Town Council. His immediate superior for day to day operations, however, will be the Town Administrator.

Complaints about the Chief by line officers may be taken directly to the Town Administrator. Complaints about the Town Administrator may be taken by the Chief directly to Town Council.

The Council has, for all practical purposes, eliminated its former committee structure, operating instead in work sessions as a Committee of the Whole. Thus, its former Public Safety Committee, chaired by Bundles Murdock, is no longer part of the official chain of command. Murdock will instead serve as the Council's Public Safety Chair, responsible for serving as the Council's go-to person when acting as a Committee of the whole on police matters or other Public Safety concerns.

Utility Fund Budget

At March 22 work session, Town Administrator Semmes reported that Loudoun Water's charges for its services to the Town of Middleburg total some $248,000 in the year ahead.

Asked by Councilmember Shea why those costs seemed to be rising, Semmes noted that the bill was determined in large part by number of hours Loudoun Water's operators were required to be in Middleburg to provide service. New facilities, she noted, required among other things additional testing. Semmes also noted that the operators must also back wash the new facilities.

Asked by Council Member Mark Snyder when the Town was scheduled to renew the Loudoun Water contract. Town Clerk North confirmed the contract expired in 2014. Snyder suggested that any new contract include performance incentives.

Open Government

At the same work session, Councilmember Kathy Jo Shea noted that the Town did not have minutes on record for committees that did not report directly to the Council. Among them were the Town's Go Green Committee, the Museum Committee and the Pink Box Advisory Board

Noting that the lack of reliable records "could cause problems," Shea suggested that Council ask the committees to regularly provide meeting notes or minutes to the Town.

Town Clerk North observed that the resolutions establishing the committees already required that they take notes of their meetings, though they were not required to take formal minutes.

Town Council Election

On May 1, 2012, four members of the Middleburg Town Council will stand for re-election. With no one else in the running, all will be re-elected. Nevertheless, the Eccentric asked all the candidates the following six questions:

1. Given the demands of the job (and the low pay) why are you running again?
2. Why do you think no one else is running?
3. What was the best thing to happen to Middleburg during your last term?
4. What was the worst?
5. What are you most looking forward to seeing happen in Middleburg in your next term?
6. What's your greatest concern for the next term?

Here, in their entirety, are their replies:

Mayor Betsy Davis

Running for office for Middleburg Town Council is indeed a labor of love. My love for the town and it's people continue to keep me motivated.

I did a lot of "soul searching" to make my decision to run for Mayor again. I realized there are still some items I would like to see completed.

First and foremost, I would like to have the opportunity to see the completion of Salamander Resort before I "retire". I have been on Council since it's "infancy" and would very much like to see it to completion!

The Marshall and Madison Street project is still "in the works" and needs to be finished and I am also trying very hard to have lovely brick (or brick-looking) crosswalks in our town.

The Middleburg Museum is finally coming to fruition, by the steady and determined guidance of Eura Lewis and her great committee, and I would really like to help them find a "home" so they can continue to grow.

I am very proud of my accomplishments since I have been on Council. I think my biggest accomplishment is helping to add an Economic Development Department to our town and budget. Our businesses are a large portion of our tax base and they deserve to have a strong representation.

We now have a new Wastewater Treatment Plant and a new Water Treatment Plant that have been paid for by Salamander Resort. The town would have had to build a new Wastewater Treatment Plant whether the Resort was here or not and this would have cost a large amount of money for our citizens. It has saved our citizens a lot of money.

Our budget is back on track and both General Fund and Utility Fund are now both able to support themselves. I know raising utility rates has not been a popular nor easy decision for Council, but one that was for the "good of the town".

We have overcome some very rough waters with our budget and the economy, but thanks to an excellent staff and a determined and focused Council we are maintaining a balanced budget. I feel that the economy is slowly moving forward and our budget will continue to get stronger. We will continue to monitor our finances closely and hope to be able to increase monies to our Capital Improvement Program to make many needed upgrades to our town and our utilities infrastructure.

I hope the citizens of Middleburg will allow me the opportunity to finish these tasks. It is indeed an honor to represent all of my friends and neighbors and to be Mayor of our wonderful town!

Kathy Jo Shea

My decision to run for re-election this year was a difficult one. Being a co-owner and operator of two businesses in Middleburg does not leave a great deal of extra time. In the end it was a deep commitment to serve the community that has supported me both in those businesses and personally, that finally won out. This will be my final term, however, I thought the knowledge gained in the first term should be put to good use for the Town.

The most difficult and the best of being on the Council happen at every meeting. Most meetings I must balance my own beliefs about what is best for the Town, my personal ideas about the "future" Middleburg, my individual response to the issue, the "facts" of the issue before us, and whatever limitations we have legally. Most difficult of all are those issues which directly impact the quality of life for the citizen of the community, especially financially. Knowing that this process happens in "public", makes the job no easier.

I believe that Middleburg is facing some critical decisions, with the urban crawl, increasing population and the infrastructure demands that will accompany it; with legislative changes which add financial requirements; and locally, with the construction of additional housing and the opening of the Salamander Inn.

Bundles Murdock

After 8 years on the Middleburg Town Council, I am running again because I love Middleburg. It is as simple as that. I will work hard to keep the charming, small town feeling while keeping an eye on little improvements that need to be made. I am a 4th generation town resident and I treasure what we have and all the wonderful volunteers that make it the greatest place to live, work, shop and dine.

Trowbridge Littleton

I have been a native resident all my life and appreciate where we have been, where we are now and how we should plan for our future. I live and work in Middleburg and value this special life we have! I thank you in advance for your support for the May council election.

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