At its regular monthly meeting on January 10 the Middleburg Town Council passed a formal resolution of appreciation thanking the Christmas in Middleburg Committee, its volunteers, the events sponsors, and town, county, and state staff who gave their time to make this year's event one of the best, and arguably the largest ever. Committee Chairman Jim Herbert formally accepted the Council's thanks.

The economic impact of the parade, which this year brought in an estimated 12,000 visitors, is expected to be reflected sales and use tax data that will become available later this month.

Bond Refinance

Town Administrator Martha Semmes reported that she had been actively engaged in discussion with the Town's financial advisors and bond counsel about refinancing the town's outstanding debt to take advantage of lower interest rates.

After a presentation by Semmes and a representative of Davenport & Co, the town's financial advisor, council appeared to favor the terms offered by SunTrust Bank, over those available from the Commonwealth's Virginia Resources Authority or the Town's current lender, Middleburg Bank. During its discussion of the alternative proposals Council indicated that, if possible, it would prefer doing business with Middleburg Bank and asked Semmes to see if the locally based institution could not meet or better the terms offered by SunTrust.

A final decision on the refinance is expected before the end of the month.

New Seven Loaves President

George Lengauer, long-serving President of the non-profit Seven Loaves organization introduced Council to his successor, Melanie Maloney. Maloney, of Marshall, VA, has served many years as a Seven Loaves supporter, providing food for the needy in Loudoun and surrounding counties. Council expressed its appreciation to Lengauer for his many years of service.

Middleburg Museum

Robert Brown, the attorney for the Middleburg Museum Committee reported to council in December that the committee's formal status as a federal 501.c.3 non profit organization had been approved, and was effective as of the organization's date of incorporation in August 2011. Donations to the museum are now officially tax deductible.

Educator and former Middleburg Town Council member Eura H. Lewis thanked council for its help, with special thanks to Council Vice Chair Darlene Kirk, and Council liaison to the Museum Committee, Cathy Jo Shea for their support and hard work.

Health Fund Donations

Each year the Middleburg Town Council donates to local non-profit organizations the operating profits earned from the "Health Center," the rental property owned by the town which, among other tenants, houses the Middleburg Police Department.

At its December 13 meeting Council made the following grants: Seven Loaves - $7,500; Middleburg Volunteer Fire Department - $3,000; Windy Hill Tutoring Program - $1,400; Cherry Blossom Breast Cancer Fund - $400; Middleburg Public Library Advisory Board - $1,900; Middleburg FISH - $2,100; Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter - $500; Middleburg Community Center - $2,700; and A Place to Be - $500.

Surplus Shotguns

On January 10 Council unanimously approved a request from Police Chief A.J. Panebianco and Town Administrator Semmes to declare three Benelli tactical shotguns as "surplus property" and sold through an advertised public sale. In a memorandum to Semmes Chief Paniebianco noted that the weapons had been purchased by former Police Chief Webber and could be sold for roughly $800 each. Panebianco would use proceeds for the sale to purchase uniforms and upgrade equipment.

Asked by Council member Mark Snyder who could purchase the weapons, Panebianco noted that the automatic shotguns, with pistol grips and five-round magazines could not be sold directly to civilians unless modified appropriately. The most likely purchasers, he noted would be Federally licensed gun dealers who could and would modify the weapons as necessary. He also indicated that he would contact other police agencies.

According to Panebianco, he and his officers were now well-trained and long accustomed to an older model and very effective shotgun and found the Benellis more difficult to use safely in a Middleburg environment.

Rural Economic Development Council

Standing in for the Loudoun County Economic Development Department's Kellie Boles, Jim Herbert outlined for Council the County's new Rural Economy Business Development Strategy.

The County's Rural Economic Development Council, now in its 13th year, developed the four-part strategy.

In the year ahead the County will focus on:

1. New and improved marketing
2. Research and education
3. Evaluation of new and existing financial tools to support both start-up and expansion of rural businesses.
4. Optimizing public policy support

Traffic Calming

Council has formally requested that the Virginia Department of Transportation install a stop sign at the Marshall/Madison street intersection governing traffic flow headed south on Foxcroft road.

The new stop sign would make the difficult and often dangerous intersection a three-way stop.

Clean Water

Council member Mark Snyder commended the Town's new Wellhead Protection Advisory Committee and announced that its new Source Water Protection brochure would soon be ready for distribution to residents living within zip codes 20117 and 20118 and on the Town's website.

The brochure offers advice on what citizens can do to enhance the purity of the water that ultimately winds up in the town's wells, and thus in their daily water supply.

New Flag Fees

Town Planner David Beniamino reminded Council that it still had not developed policies governing the display of promotional flags on Town property.

Each year, he noted, flags are flown along the town's main street promoting the Spring Races, and now the Fall Races and perhaps others want to do the same thing.

The town can accommodate up to 14 such flags at a time if the promoter furnishes the flags and appropriately sized poles.

Beniamino has suggested that the Town charge a $100 fee for the privilege of displaying promotional flags, to cover the cost of hiring a subcontractor to put the flags up and take them down.