Next year, Vienna town citizens will see a 1-cent reduction in their real estate tax rate. Instead of 27.5 cents, next fiscal year's tax rate will be 26.5 cents. This is one of the changes that the Vienna Town Council made Monday evening, when it approved the 2004-05 Budget.
Several ordinances relating to the budget also passed, although their final adoption won't occur until the June 21 meeting. The ordinances include the following:
* An amendment that would allow the town instead of Fairfax County to receive the revenue from the existing cellular-phone tax;
* An increase in water and sewer rates, so that water rates would increase 12 cents for every 1,000 gallons used and sewer rates would increase 18 cents per 1,000 gallons, with citizens seeing an average quarterly increase of $7.50;
* A lowering of the maximum fine for allowing dogs to run at large. In order to make the town's laws consistent with the state's laws, the fine would be lowered from $500 to $250.
While the budget passed with a unanimous vote of 6-0, the intent to adopt the ordinances was also almost unanimous. Except for the water and sewer rate increase, which Councilwoman Edythe Kelleher voted against, the other ordinances passed 6-0.
THE COUNCIL also discussed the following items:
* The mayor and Council formally submitted a conditional use permit for leaf mulching at 442 Beulah Road N.E. By applying for a conditional use permit, the town would be asking the Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals whether the leaf mulching operation at that location should proceed. As the applicant, the Town would need to address, through the application, issues such as hours of operation, noise, smell and dust. It would also have to address the cost of leaf mulching in town vs. out of town.
Special public meetings have been planned before the two committee bodies this summer. The meeting before the Planning Commission will occur on Wednesday, July 28, at 8 p.m., and the meeting before the Board of Zoning Appeals will occur on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 8 p.m.
The leaf mulching site off Beulah Road has faced controversy over the last several months, as residents have asserted that the leaf mulching operation has adversely impacted the environment of the site and the quality of life of the surrounding neighborhood.
* The Town Council listened to a summary about revisions to the solid waste management plan. The state had asked the Town to update the plan, which was last updated in 1991. The Council will approve the revision on June 21, pending the inclusion of Council suggestions to the draft.
* The Council approved a budget request of $15,475.25 from the Town/Business Liaison Committee, to publish and distribute a Vienna Shopping Guide. The shopping guide would include all town businesses with storefronts, and the money would come from 2004 Council contingency funds.
* Council approved the purchase of ArcIMS software at the price of $6,214.80. The software, which could be used throughout all Town departments, would find use in the Department of Planning Zoning. It would update the department's current software, so that it would be easier to track and combine information on various properties and zoning applications.
* The Council approved the appointment of Michael J. "Mike" Polychrones to the Town Council to fill former Councilman Al Boudreau's seat, and the Council approved a resolution recognizing Bruce Oliver for his 16 years as principal at Thoreau Middle School in Vienna. Oliver is retiring from the county school system in June.