A neighbor received an email response from the Board to her earlier email that included as an attachment the guidance the Board had given the County Manager for preparing the FY10 budget proposal. Here is the guidance, verbatim:
# # #
County Board Guidance for Preparation of the Manager’s Proposed FY 2010 Budget
Goals:
The County Board directs the County Manager to prepare a FY 2010 budget that reflects the serious economic downturn while honoring the County’s vision and legacy. Specifically, the FY 2010 budget must protect our core services, continue our investments in affordable housing and environmental sustainability, and ensure a social services safety net for those in need.
Principles:
The following principles shall guide the development of the Manager’s Proposed FY 2010 budget:
1.
There shall be no increase in the average real estate tax burden on homeowners above the CY 2008 level.
2.
Ensure long-term financial sustainability, anticipating no greater than flat revenue growth over at least a three year period.
3.
Preserve the County’s triple AAA bond rating.
4.
Fully fund all debt, lease and other contractual commitments, including those “subject to appropriation” in the base budget.
5.
Add no new positions or programs supported by local tax revenues, unless bringing existing services in-house can be shown to save money.
6.
Eliminate discretionary expenses and inefficiencies while protecting core services.
7.
Comply with the Revenue Sharing Agreement with the Schools.
The County Manager shall also provide: (1) an impact assessment were we to keep expenses within existing tax rates, and; (2) an impact assessment, including the extent to which tax rates would have to increase, were we to maintain services at the FY09 revised budget level.
Strategies:
In developing his proposed budget, the manager should:
•
Evaluate strategic choices such as investments in maintenance capital that would reduce on-going operating expenses.
•
Where possible, present fee options that could offset the potential elimination of a non-essential service.
•
Present alternatives that reduce costs through consolidation, mergers, contracting, partnerships, and other service mechanisms.
[end]
I had not seen this guidance posted anywhere before but no doubt missed something -- not the first time.
I like the rhetoric about environmental sustainability but the County's heart seems to be in some odd kind of environmental sustainability that ignores nature and what it takes to sustain our natural resources.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Hello County Board, Remember the "Arlington Way"?
I received the following email today from Arlington County Board Chairman Barbara Favola. I do sincerely appreciate receiving her response, the more so since I have not had the courtesy of a response from Messrs. Tiwari and Temmermand thus far.
[subject:] regarding Gulf Branch Nature Center (Intranet Quorum IMA00221631)
February 26, 2009
Mr. Steve Young
5617 South 5th Street
Arlington, Virginia 22204
Dear Mr. Young:
On behalf of the County Board, thank you for taking
the time to let us know of your support for continued use
and programming at Gulf Branch Nature Center and other
Arlington programs that care for the environment.
Arlington, like communities across the country, faces
significant budget challenges this year. The Board received
the manager's proposed budget on Saturday Feb 21 and will
be reviewing and adjusting the proposal until April 28th when
the budget is adopted. You can access the full budget at
www.arlingtonva.us/proposedbudget
Whether the programs at Gulf Branch Nature Center
should be funded in fiscal year 2010, beginning July 1, 2009,
and at what level will be considered as part of a larger
budget deliberation that the County Board is just beginning.
Your comments are an important part of this deliberation.
Meanwhile, program activities and the facility at Gulf Branch
will continue to be available at least until June 30th. Fiscal
year 2010 budget decisions will be made by the County
Board on April 28th.
For your information, County staff will be briefing
appropriate commissions on March 5 regarding the proposed
budget as it relates to the Department of Parks, Recreation
and Cultural Resources.
Commission chairs will discuss the budget with the
County Board on March 19 from 7:00 - 9:30 pm in the
County Board room at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard. The
general public is welcome to attend, though public comment
will not be taken at these meetings.
Finally, the Board will conduct public hearings on the
Manager's budget proposals on March 24 and 25 and on
proposed tax and fee increases on March 26 from 7:00 -
10:00 pm in the County Board room.
We look forward to continuing this dialogue.
Sincerely,
Barbara A. Favola
Chairman
But here's my problem. I sought to bring to the Board and County managers' attention improper practices that were followed in the firing of the two key women in leadership positions in the key nature programs proposed to be destroyed, namely Gulf Branch Nature Center director Ms. Denise Chauvette and Invasives Coordinator Ms. Jenn Truong. Due to the County's lack of transparency, it is very difficult for me to piece together exactly what happened, but I am satisfied that for all practical purposes both women were fired without cause under the guise that their layoffs were necessary to meet FY09 shortfalls.
So what happened to the Arlington Way? The Arlington Way would dictate that people not be terminated until a decision had been made, following proper procedures, about the fate of their programs. Everything about this has been improper and smells to high heaven. This is the kind of behavior I might expect from some backwater county. I am appalled to see it happening here in Arlington.
So again, I ask, what has gone wrong that Arlington has decided to declare war on nature and target these women?
But maybe the managers have calculated that folks don't care enough to demand that this be fixed. I hope they are not right.
Absolutely, it is OK to propose any crazy ideas you want for the FY10 budget and go through the public process before a decision by the elected officials. It is not OK to fire people arbitrarily in an attempt to make an end run and subvert the process, and then to put up a smoke screen about what happened and try to pretend that these people weren't fired.
[subject:] regarding Gulf Branch Nature Center (Intranet Quorum IMA00221631)
February 26, 2009
Mr. Steve Young
5617 South 5th Street
Arlington, Virginia 22204
Dear Mr. Young:
On behalf of the County Board, thank you for taking
the time to let us know of your support for continued use
and programming at Gulf Branch Nature Center and other
Arlington programs that care for the environment.
Arlington, like communities across the country, faces
significant budget challenges this year. The Board received
the manager's proposed budget on Saturday Feb 21 and will
be reviewing and adjusting the proposal until April 28th when
the budget is adopted. You can access the full budget at
www.arlingtonva.us/proposedbudget
Whether the programs at Gulf Branch Nature Center
should be funded in fiscal year 2010, beginning July 1, 2009,
and at what level will be considered as part of a larger
budget deliberation that the County Board is just beginning.
Your comments are an important part of this deliberation.
Meanwhile, program activities and the facility at Gulf Branch
will continue to be available at least until June 30th. Fiscal
year 2010 budget decisions will be made by the County
Board on April 28th.
For your information, County staff will be briefing
appropriate commissions on March 5 regarding the proposed
budget as it relates to the Department of Parks, Recreation
and Cultural Resources.
Commission chairs will discuss the budget with the
County Board on March 19 from 7:00 - 9:30 pm in the
County Board room at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard. The
general public is welcome to attend, though public comment
will not be taken at these meetings.
Finally, the Board will conduct public hearings on the
Manager's budget proposals on March 24 and 25 and on
proposed tax and fee increases on March 26 from 7:00 -
10:00 pm in the County Board room.
We look forward to continuing this dialogue.
Sincerely,
Barbara A. Favola
Chairman
But here's my problem. I sought to bring to the Board and County managers' attention improper practices that were followed in the firing of the two key women in leadership positions in the key nature programs proposed to be destroyed, namely Gulf Branch Nature Center director Ms. Denise Chauvette and Invasives Coordinator Ms. Jenn Truong. Due to the County's lack of transparency, it is very difficult for me to piece together exactly what happened, but I am satisfied that for all practical purposes both women were fired without cause under the guise that their layoffs were necessary to meet FY09 shortfalls.
So what happened to the Arlington Way? The Arlington Way would dictate that people not be terminated until a decision had been made, following proper procedures, about the fate of their programs. Everything about this has been improper and smells to high heaven. This is the kind of behavior I might expect from some backwater county. I am appalled to see it happening here in Arlington.
So again, I ask, what has gone wrong that Arlington has decided to declare war on nature and target these women?
But maybe the managers have calculated that folks don't care enough to demand that this be fixed. I hope they are not right.
Absolutely, it is OK to propose any crazy ideas you want for the FY10 budget and go through the public process before a decision by the elected officials. It is not OK to fire people arbitrarily in an attempt to make an end run and subvert the process, and then to put up a smoke screen about what happened and try to pretend that these people weren't fired.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
More Action to Save Gulf Branch
From Janet Nuzum, who spoke at the County Board meeting Saturday Feb 21:
Please join me in trying to save Gulf Branch Nature Center....
Earlier today, the Arlington County Manager proposed a budget for FY 2010 (that begins on July 1) that includes, the permanent closure of Gulf Branch Nature Center and actual demolition of the building (I'm not kidding.... read the attachment!). This action makes little sense, especially in light of the fact that the GBNC building just went through significant improvements and restoration work over the past year. Not to mention the many valuable programs, activities, and fabulous staff who work there.
We have approximately one month to respond to this threat; the County Board has scheduled public hearings on the budget proposal for March 24 and 25.
To facilitate communication and coordination among friends and supporters of Gulf Branch Nature Center, I have
created a Yahoo group called "Friends_of_Gulf_Branch"..... please join this list-serve if you would like to be kept informed of developments, including meetings to strategize an effective defense of GBNC. Just go to the link below, and then click on "Join this group'.
Friends of Gulf Branch
Please share this message widely. We need to mobilize quickly with as many people as possible.
Many thanks for your help and support,
Janet Nuzum
# # #
Also a Facebook group and an on-line petition:
Link to the Facebook group to Save Gulf Branch Nature Center:
Facebook Group
and the petition:
Petition
Please join me in trying to save Gulf Branch Nature Center....
Earlier today, the Arlington County Manager proposed a budget for FY 2010 (that begins on July 1) that includes, the permanent closure of Gulf Branch Nature Center and actual demolition of the building (I'm not kidding.... read the attachment!). This action makes little sense, especially in light of the fact that the GBNC building just went through significant improvements and restoration work over the past year. Not to mention the many valuable programs, activities, and fabulous staff who work there.
We have approximately one month to respond to this threat; the County Board has scheduled public hearings on the budget proposal for March 24 and 25.
To facilitate communication and coordination among friends and supporters of Gulf Branch Nature Center, I have
created a Yahoo group called "Friends_of_Gulf_Branch"..... please join this list-serve if you would like to be kept informed of developments, including meetings to strategize an effective defense of GBNC. Just go to the link below, and then click on "Join this group'.
Friends of Gulf Branch
Please share this message widely. We need to mobilize quickly with as many people as possible.
Many thanks for your help and support,
Janet Nuzum
# # #
Also a Facebook group and an on-line petition:
Link to the Facebook group to Save Gulf Branch Nature Center:
Facebook Group
and the petition:
Petition
Monday, February 23, 2009
Strategy to fight back for nature in Arlington
I suggest a 3-pronged strategies for concerned citizens to fight back for nature in Arlington.
First, tell more people about what is going on and urge them to get involved. If you can, contact media and ask them to cover the story.
Second, contact county management and express your disapproval of the firings of Denise Chauvette of Gulf Branch and Jenn Truong of the Invasives program. Ask them to reverse these decisions and wait for the Board decision on the fiscal year 2010 budget.
Third, read the fiscal year 2010 budget proposal, especially the Gulf Branch and Invasives termination sections. See the budget at:
Budget
The most relevant text reads:
"Eliminate contract with Virginia Tech for invasive plant control ($60,000).
IMPACT: The technical expertise, educational outreach, volunteer recruitment and coordination would be lost. Existing County staff will be reassigned to do more education and removal projects to mitigate the loss of this position.
Close Gulf Branch Nature Center and shift most programming to the nearby Potomac Overlook Nature Center operated by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Eliminate one Natural Resources Specialist position ($101,459, 1.0 FTE), temporary employee expenses ($10,700, 0.30 temporary FTE) and non-personnel material and supplies operating budget ($13,198) (utilities savings of $6,700 is in Park Management and Construction), reducing the two Nature Centers’ budget from $662,290 to $440,170.
IMPACT: The existing Gulf Branch Nature Center building will be demolished and most indoor programs will be hosted at Potomac Overlook Nature Center. The department will continue to use the Gulf Branch Nature Center site for some outdoor programs and the public will have continued use of the existing parking area and the site. The service impact to the customer will be the change in the location of programs to the nearby Potomac Overlook Nature Center."
Public hearings will be held March 24-26, 7-10 PM, in the County Board Room, room 307, 2100 Clarendon Ave. Members of the public can sign up on-line to testify beginning one week in advance. Even if you don't plan to testify, show up! And write to the Board. Let them know you oppose cuts to Arlington's already inadequate natural resources programs.
First, tell more people about what is going on and urge them to get involved. If you can, contact media and ask them to cover the story.
Second, contact county management and express your disapproval of the firings of Denise Chauvette of Gulf Branch and Jenn Truong of the Invasives program. Ask them to reverse these decisions and wait for the Board decision on the fiscal year 2010 budget.
Third, read the fiscal year 2010 budget proposal, especially the Gulf Branch and Invasives termination sections. See the budget at:
Budget
The most relevant text reads:
"Eliminate contract with Virginia Tech for invasive plant control ($60,000).
IMPACT: The technical expertise, educational outreach, volunteer recruitment and coordination would be lost. Existing County staff will be reassigned to do more education and removal projects to mitigate the loss of this position.
Close Gulf Branch Nature Center and shift most programming to the nearby Potomac Overlook Nature Center operated by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Eliminate one Natural Resources Specialist position ($101,459, 1.0 FTE), temporary employee expenses ($10,700, 0.30 temporary FTE) and non-personnel material and supplies operating budget ($13,198) (utilities savings of $6,700 is in Park Management and Construction), reducing the two Nature Centers’ budget from $662,290 to $440,170.
IMPACT: The existing Gulf Branch Nature Center building will be demolished and most indoor programs will be hosted at Potomac Overlook Nature Center. The department will continue to use the Gulf Branch Nature Center site for some outdoor programs and the public will have continued use of the existing parking area and the site. The service impact to the customer will be the change in the location of programs to the nearby Potomac Overlook Nature Center."
Public hearings will be held March 24-26, 7-10 PM, in the County Board Room, room 307, 2100 Clarendon Ave. Members of the public can sign up on-line to testify beginning one week in advance. Even if you don't plan to testify, show up! And write to the Board. Let them know you oppose cuts to Arlington's already inadequate natural resources programs.
Letter to Arlington County Management
I emailed this to Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources department director Dinesh Tiwari and Parks and Natural Resources division director Steve Temmermand today, with copies to the county manager and the county board:
Dear Mr. Tiwari and Mr. Temmermand:
I am writing to express my concern and frankly outrage over two actions that were taken on Thursday and Friday of last week. On Thursday, Denise Chauvette, the director of Gulf Branch Nature Center, was told that her position was ended in less than two weeks. On Friday, Jenn Truong, was told that her extension agent position with Virginia Cooperative Extension, funded by Arlington County to serve as Arlington's Invasives Coordinator ends March 31 because the County has withdrawn funding.
While the exact substance, means and manner of the communications to them may be disputed, I am confident that both of these conscientious women would aver that they understood that they were losing their positions and that they had no meaningful choice -- these were involuntary separations triggered by County actions. I understand that Ms. Chauvette has served the County for almost 24 years and wished to continue to serve as director of Gulf Branch. Ms. Truong is a new mother, with a 5-month-old son, and also wished to continue to serve as Invasives Coordinator. Both of them are dedicated and competent, and they are a huge part of Arlington's small natural resources workforce.
I understand very well that the FY10 budget submitted by Mr. Carlee on Saturday proposes the closing of Gulf Branch and the elimination of the invasives program. I look forward to the upcoming public hearings and the opportunity for public input before the Board makes the final decision.
But the two actions related to Ms. Chauvette and Ms. Truong are extremely premature, and frankly, shameful. There was no public input. As Mr. Zimmerman noted in his questions Saturday morning, losing key personnel in small programs has a disproportionate impact on those programs, relative to losing personnel in programs with staffs larger than 10. Removing the women who run Gulf Branch and Invasives amounts to pre-deciding the fate of those programs, before public process.
I understand that tough decisions have to be made to meet the current-year funding shortfall. And I understand that both women were offered severance packages that arguably may be more generous than the minimum required. However, the actions devastate two key programs before the hearings and a Board vote. So I am respectfully asking that these actions be reconsidered and reversed and that both positions remain filled by their incumbents at least through a final Board decision on the FY10 budget, which will clarify the fate of Gulf Branch and Invasives. I can estimate that the current-year dollar savings attributable to these premature actions are well under $50,000, while the negative impact to our natural resources is severe.
Finally, let me mention that over the last dozen-plus years I have contributed more than a thousand hours of volunteer time to Arlington, focused on invasive plant removal. I have been honored to receive 2005 Arlington Volunteer of the Year recognition, and recent recognition from Virginia Master Naturalists' "Armed and Dangerous: Destroying Virginia's Invasive Species" award. Hundreds of volunteers, County citizens and taxpayers, have been active with the Nature Centers and the Invasives program, and we are all extremely upset about the actions against Ms. Chauvette and Ms. Truong. We will address the FY10 budget proposal itself when the hearings come.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Steve Young
Dear Mr. Tiwari and Mr. Temmermand:
I am writing to express my concern and frankly outrage over two actions that were taken on Thursday and Friday of last week. On Thursday, Denise Chauvette, the director of Gulf Branch Nature Center, was told that her position was ended in less than two weeks. On Friday, Jenn Truong, was told that her extension agent position with Virginia Cooperative Extension, funded by Arlington County to serve as Arlington's Invasives Coordinator ends March 31 because the County has withdrawn funding.
While the exact substance, means and manner of the communications to them may be disputed, I am confident that both of these conscientious women would aver that they understood that they were losing their positions and that they had no meaningful choice -- these were involuntary separations triggered by County actions. I understand that Ms. Chauvette has served the County for almost 24 years and wished to continue to serve as director of Gulf Branch. Ms. Truong is a new mother, with a 5-month-old son, and also wished to continue to serve as Invasives Coordinator. Both of them are dedicated and competent, and they are a huge part of Arlington's small natural resources workforce.
I understand very well that the FY10 budget submitted by Mr. Carlee on Saturday proposes the closing of Gulf Branch and the elimination of the invasives program. I look forward to the upcoming public hearings and the opportunity for public input before the Board makes the final decision.
But the two actions related to Ms. Chauvette and Ms. Truong are extremely premature, and frankly, shameful. There was no public input. As Mr. Zimmerman noted in his questions Saturday morning, losing key personnel in small programs has a disproportionate impact on those programs, relative to losing personnel in programs with staffs larger than 10. Removing the women who run Gulf Branch and Invasives amounts to pre-deciding the fate of those programs, before public process.
I understand that tough decisions have to be made to meet the current-year funding shortfall. And I understand that both women were offered severance packages that arguably may be more generous than the minimum required. However, the actions devastate two key programs before the hearings and a Board vote. So I am respectfully asking that these actions be reconsidered and reversed and that both positions remain filled by their incumbents at least through a final Board decision on the FY10 budget, which will clarify the fate of Gulf Branch and Invasives. I can estimate that the current-year dollar savings attributable to these premature actions are well under $50,000, while the negative impact to our natural resources is severe.
Finally, let me mention that over the last dozen-plus years I have contributed more than a thousand hours of volunteer time to Arlington, focused on invasive plant removal. I have been honored to receive 2005 Arlington Volunteer of the Year recognition, and recent recognition from Virginia Master Naturalists' "Armed and Dangerous: Destroying Virginia's Invasive Species" award. Hundreds of volunteers, County citizens and taxpayers, have been active with the Nature Centers and the Invasives program, and we are all extremely upset about the actions against Ms. Chauvette and Ms. Truong. We will address the FY10 budget proposal itself when the hearings come.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Steve Young
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Talking Points
Talking Points
Invasive species are considered the number two threat to endangered species globally. Currently they are at the forefront of the climate change crisis and a priority issue in natural resource management. Arlington County has very little natural area left. A large proportion of our remaining natural areas had been severely degraded by invasive plants. The program was making clear, demonstrable progress that anyone can see if they get their rear ends out of their offices and visit the sites and look at the before-and-after photo documentation and talk to volunteers and citizens. Recent personnel decisions and budget proposals show they're choosing to neglect nature. For a county that claims to be green, Arlington lacks a natural resource management team or plan. Is "smart growth" really just about building lots of parking garages next to unaffordable condos above shops that sell things too expensive to purchase in this economic climate? County managers apparently think in ignorance that the park maintenance staff they have know anything about invasive species control, and they fired the one person they had who did have the knowledge before she even had the chance to train staff (something that was scheduled to take place later this spring) -- a person who was one of the region’s top experts, let alone in the state of Virginia; a person they had the good fortune of paying well below the running salary range for that level of expertise. There is one remaining, low-paid but knowledgeable technician who works on a very part-time basis on invasives (for a few more weeks, anyway, maybe…) Foolish.
On top of that, Virginia just passed a bill charging the Secretary of Natural Resources with the responsibility of developing an invasive species management plan to prevent the introduction of invasive species and to control and eradicate those species that are present on Virginia's lands and waters. When the management plan comes out and counties are asked to respond accordingly, Arlington will not have the means to respond. The county has had a long-running history of conducting improper invasive species management in the absence of and lack of consultation with a specialist -- something that angered many of us park-using citizens. Just when things were starting to turn around in this respect, they've essentially indicated that it's an unnecessary change of direction to make by removing the program coordinator and specialist. More foolish.
And this decision was delivered on the day before the start of National Invasive Weed Awareness Week (February 22 - 28), for which the conference is going on right here in DC! What kind of sign is Arlington sending to the rest of the nation? Might we also mention that a state-wide Invasive Plant Removal Day (May 2) had just been announced the week before? A state-wide initiative started by the program coordinator that they just fired. Can Arlington County possibly dare to bring their faces to the table and ask to be a partner in this initiative anymore? In fact, they probably should put out a second press release to remove their name from the previous press release. What a shame considering every other county surrounding them has already indicated full support. What kind of sign is Arlington sending to the rest of our area partners? Arlington County PRCR has a running history of being regressive, defensive, and reactive rather than proactive, protective, progressive. Extremely foolish.
What alternatives analysis was done to support the decision to effectively end the invasives program before budget hearings? What consideration was given to the resource leveraging having an invasives coordinator provides? What about the benefits for citizens and the environment from having an effective program?
The County will claim that the decision to lay off the invasives coordinator by withdrawing funding now does not mean that the program has been ended as proposed for FY10. This is misleading. Decapitating the program clearly was intended to pre-decide the issue before the public hearings next month. It takes time for a new coordinator to come up to speed in working with staff, volunteers, and citizens. By removing the coordinator, the County guarantees a head-less program that will look easy to cut permanently in a few weeks. The County will also claim that no county employee is affected. Technically this is true because Jenn has been serving as an extension agent in Virginia Cooperative Extension and her employer is Virginia Tech. Arlington has been paying for her position under contract.
Finally, at the human level, this was a rotten thing to do and it looks like targeting to some of us. Jenn is a new mom with a 5-month-old baby boy and she has only recently been increasing her work hours after maternity leave. She is dedicated, conscientious, and has put in a lot of extra time without compensation. She was only given notice on Friday, February 20, 2009 after numerous other people had been made privy to the county’s plans. Her position ends March 31. Yes, this is after public budget hearings to discuss the proposed FY10 budget that would eliminate her position, but BEFORE the Board has voted on the proposal.
Contact the County Board, County Manager Ron Carlee; Dinesh Tiwari, Director, Department of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources; and Steve Temmermand, director, Parks and Natural Resources Division, and make your views known.
Invasive species are considered the number two threat to endangered species globally. Currently they are at the forefront of the climate change crisis and a priority issue in natural resource management. Arlington County has very little natural area left. A large proportion of our remaining natural areas had been severely degraded by invasive plants. The program was making clear, demonstrable progress that anyone can see if they get their rear ends out of their offices and visit the sites and look at the before-and-after photo documentation and talk to volunteers and citizens. Recent personnel decisions and budget proposals show they're choosing to neglect nature. For a county that claims to be green, Arlington lacks a natural resource management team or plan. Is "smart growth" really just about building lots of parking garages next to unaffordable condos above shops that sell things too expensive to purchase in this economic climate? County managers apparently think in ignorance that the park maintenance staff they have know anything about invasive species control, and they fired the one person they had who did have the knowledge before she even had the chance to train staff (something that was scheduled to take place later this spring) -- a person who was one of the region’s top experts, let alone in the state of Virginia; a person they had the good fortune of paying well below the running salary range for that level of expertise. There is one remaining, low-paid but knowledgeable technician who works on a very part-time basis on invasives (for a few more weeks, anyway, maybe…) Foolish.
On top of that, Virginia just passed a bill charging the Secretary of Natural Resources with the responsibility of developing an invasive species management plan to prevent the introduction of invasive species and to control and eradicate those species that are present on Virginia's lands and waters. When the management plan comes out and counties are asked to respond accordingly, Arlington will not have the means to respond. The county has had a long-running history of conducting improper invasive species management in the absence of and lack of consultation with a specialist -- something that angered many of us park-using citizens. Just when things were starting to turn around in this respect, they've essentially indicated that it's an unnecessary change of direction to make by removing the program coordinator and specialist. More foolish.
And this decision was delivered on the day before the start of National Invasive Weed Awareness Week (February 22 - 28), for which the conference is going on right here in DC! What kind of sign is Arlington sending to the rest of the nation? Might we also mention that a state-wide Invasive Plant Removal Day (May 2) had just been announced the week before? A state-wide initiative started by the program coordinator that they just fired. Can Arlington County possibly dare to bring their faces to the table and ask to be a partner in this initiative anymore? In fact, they probably should put out a second press release to remove their name from the previous press release. What a shame considering every other county surrounding them has already indicated full support. What kind of sign is Arlington sending to the rest of our area partners? Arlington County PRCR has a running history of being regressive, defensive, and reactive rather than proactive, protective, progressive. Extremely foolish.
What alternatives analysis was done to support the decision to effectively end the invasives program before budget hearings? What consideration was given to the resource leveraging having an invasives coordinator provides? What about the benefits for citizens and the environment from having an effective program?
The County will claim that the decision to lay off the invasives coordinator by withdrawing funding now does not mean that the program has been ended as proposed for FY10. This is misleading. Decapitating the program clearly was intended to pre-decide the issue before the public hearings next month. It takes time for a new coordinator to come up to speed in working with staff, volunteers, and citizens. By removing the coordinator, the County guarantees a head-less program that will look easy to cut permanently in a few weeks. The County will also claim that no county employee is affected. Technically this is true because Jenn has been serving as an extension agent in Virginia Cooperative Extension and her employer is Virginia Tech. Arlington has been paying for her position under contract.
Finally, at the human level, this was a rotten thing to do and it looks like targeting to some of us. Jenn is a new mom with a 5-month-old baby boy and she has only recently been increasing her work hours after maternity leave. She is dedicated, conscientious, and has put in a lot of extra time without compensation. She was only given notice on Friday, February 20, 2009 after numerous other people had been made privy to the county’s plans. Her position ends March 31. Yes, this is after public budget hearings to discuss the proposed FY10 budget that would eliminate her position, but BEFORE the Board has voted on the proposal.
Contact the County Board, County Manager Ron Carlee; Dinesh Tiwari, Director, Department of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources; and Steve Temmermand, director, Parks and Natural Resources Division, and make your views known.
Background on the Current Crisis
In the Arlington fiscal year 2010 budget released Saturday, Feb 21, 2009:
Eliminate contract with Virginia Tech for invasive plant control ($60,000).
IMPACT: The technical expertise, educational outreach, volunteer recruitment and coordination would be lost. Existing County staff will be reassigned to do more education and removal projects to mitigate the loss of this position.
Close Gulf Branch Nature Center and shift most programming to the nearby Potomac Overlook Nature Center operated by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Eliminate one Natural Resources Specialist position ($101,459, 1.0 FTE), temporary employee expenses ($10,700, 0.30 temporary FTE) and non-personnel material and supplies operating budget ($13,198) (utilities savings of $6,700 is in Park Management and Construction), reducing the two Nature Centers’ budget from $662,290 to $440,170.
IMPACT: The existing Gulf Branch Nature Center building will be demolished and most indoor programs will be hosted at Potomac Overlook Nature Center. The department will continue to use the Gulf Branch Nature Center site for some outdoor programs and the public will have continued use of the existing parking area and the site. The service impact to the customer will be the change in the location of programs to the nearby Potomac Overlook Nature Center.
See the document at:
Budget
Eliminate contract with Virginia Tech for invasive plant control ($60,000).
IMPACT: The technical expertise, educational outreach, volunteer recruitment and coordination would be lost. Existing County staff will be reassigned to do more education and removal projects to mitigate the loss of this position.
Close Gulf Branch Nature Center and shift most programming to the nearby Potomac Overlook Nature Center operated by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Eliminate one Natural Resources Specialist position ($101,459, 1.0 FTE), temporary employee expenses ($10,700, 0.30 temporary FTE) and non-personnel material and supplies operating budget ($13,198) (utilities savings of $6,700 is in Park Management and Construction), reducing the two Nature Centers’ budget from $662,290 to $440,170.
IMPACT: The existing Gulf Branch Nature Center building will be demolished and most indoor programs will be hosted at Potomac Overlook Nature Center. The department will continue to use the Gulf Branch Nature Center site for some outdoor programs and the public will have continued use of the existing parking area and the site. The service impact to the customer will be the change in the location of programs to the nearby Potomac Overlook Nature Center.
See the document at:
Budget
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