City Council

CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA HON. THOMAS J. TOMZAK, MAYOR HON. MARY KATHERINE GREENLAW, VICE MAYOR CITY COUNCIL HON. KERRY P. DEVINE, AT-LARGE HON. BRADFORD C. ELLIS, WARD ONE HON. GEORGE C. SOLLEY, WARD TWO HON. FREDERIC N. HOWE , III, WARD THREE Council Chambers, 715 Princess Anne Street HON. BEATRICE ROSE PAOLUCCI, WARD FOUR Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 Council Work Session April 19, 2012 Interviews for Building Code Appeals Board and Economic Development Authority The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a work session on Thursday, April 19, 2012 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the conference room of City Hall. Council Present. Vice-Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw, presiding. Councilors Kerry P. Devine, Frederic N. Howe, III, Beatrice R. Paolucci and George C. Solley. Also Present. Deputy Clerk of Council Brenda T. Martin. Absent. Mayor Thomas J. Tomzak and Councilor Bradford C. Ellis had work engagements. Building Code Appeals Board Interviews. Vice-Mayor Greenlaw opened the meeting by thanking the applicant Thomas Wack for his interest in serving on this board. She stated there are seven applicants and four openings on the board. She explained they will be staggered appointments. Council members took turns asking questions of the applicant. Mr. Wack stated he wants to become more involved in the City. He believes he can be fair and practical and has a broad building background and understands the City Code and how to read it. He wants to serve his community and feels he can work well with the Building and Development Services staff and others in interpreting the code. The code is mostly about fire protection and each year the code is more defined and better written. Most issues can be resolved before they go to the appeals board. Vice-Mayor Greenlaw welcomed Tommy Mitchell and thanked him for his interest in serving on this board. The Council took turns asking Mr. Mitchell questions. 1 He stated that many years ago he served as Chairman of Economic Development Authority which was the Industrial Development Authority at that time. He wants to serve the City again and he stated he has never had any prior appeals with the board. He has a good working relationship with the Building and Development Staff. Mr. Mitchell was asked if he hears about any other businesses that has had concerns with the staff. He stated that he has occasionally heard over the years that new businesses, which are excited to move in, sometimes encounter new issues that weren’t discussed in the beginning of the process. He stated overall most things are worked out favorably for all. Economic Development Authority Interviews. Vice-Mayor Greenlaw welcomed applicant Steve D’Lugos and thanked him for his interest in serving on this board. The members of Council asked several questions. Mr. D’Lugos stated he has flexible work hours but he does travel three days of the month, otherwise he is available for meetings. He would like to use his experience in sales to aggressively sell businesses to come to the City. He stated he feels the arts are an important part of the City and an economic driver for the community. Mr. D’Lugos was asked about his thoughts on the Mainstreet Initiatives Program and a downtown manager. He stated he has recently attended a citizen’s survey response meeting and at the meeting he asked if there had been interest in the owners of the buildings participating with the program. He feels this is the key to make the program a success in the long term. Mayor Greenlaw asked how he sees the Economic Development Authority role in the City’s long range plan. He replied staff and EDA must be aligned with their goals. His goal is to attract more businesses to come to the City for the best return on investment. He would like to see some of the defense contractors, like the ones coming to Quantico Corporate Center, come to the City. He is aware of the confidentiality aspect of serving on this board. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, Vice-Mayor Greenlaw declared the work session officially adjourned at 6:11 p.m. Brenda T. Matin Brenda T. Martin Deputy Clerk of Council City of Fredericksburg 2