Five incumbents will seek new terms
By Kelly Alm
Five of the seven Warrenton town council members' terms will expire June 30, including the terms of councilman John Albertella (Ward 1), John Williams (Ward 2), Dennie Sutherland (Ward 3), Sam Tarr (Ward 4), and John “Sparky” Lewis (Ward 5). Tarr was appointed to Ward 4, after Terry Nyhous stepped down after winning a seat on the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors.Elections will be held the second Tuesday of May. Council members serve overlapping four-year terms.
All five men have confirmed that they will be running again. Due to primary elections, the registrar's office has not yet reviewed applications for town council seats, but thus far officials do not think anyone has filed to challenge the incumbents. The deadline for registering is Tuesday, March 4.
Although they serve on varying committees and each has his own agenda for a second term, the five incumbents share the sentiment expressed forthrightly by Williams: “I'm simply not finished in what I'm trying to accomplish,” he said.
Williams is on the Town/County Liaison Committee, whose purpose is to provide a forum where representatives of both jurisdictions can discuss matters of mutual interest, such as governmental services, transportation and land-use planning.
“My main goal is to get the town and county working together,” Williams said. “There are financial restraints on both when they work individually.”
Sutherland and Tarr co-chair the Town Recreation Committee, the primary focus of which continues to be the Warrenton Aquatic and Recreation Facility (WARF).
“My main concern right now is the Rec Center,” Sutherland said. “I would like to get it smoothed out and running satisfactorily.” Tarr agreed. One of his main interests is to “get the WARF facility up and running really well.” Lewis also mentioned wanting to help make the WARF “a big successes.”
Tarr is also the chairman of the transportation committee. He, Sutherland, Albertella and Lewis all said that making U.S 29/Broadview Avenue more efficient is a priority. Albertella noted recent improvement on the bypass, but would like to see some of the other proposed changes in the town's Comprehensive Plan, such as roundabouts, come to fruition.
“The synchronization of the traffic lights has made a dent in the traffic congestion,” Albertella said, “but it could be more efficient. I'm very interested in the roundabouts. They'll provide a solution to a number of issues.”
Tarr also mention improving traffic on side streets such as Falmouth Street. “Basically, we want to smooth out the traffic flow to downtown,” he said.
The Greenway Plan is also part of the Comprehensive Plan. It aims to connect the county's service districts with pedestrian and bicycle trails, as well as create small parks. “I would like to see the plan move out of the design stage,” Albertella said.
Another of Albertella's goals at the beginning of his current term was to develop Eva Walker Park, one of the town's largest green spaces. The park, which has a main entrance on Alexandria Park, borders Horner Street, and homes in the Haiti District of Old Town. Thus far, phase one of a three-phase development plan has been completed. The park now contains stairs, lighting, a walking and bicycle trail, as well as entrances on Blackwell Road and Haiti Street.
The next phase will include making the park suitable as a entertainment venue and expanding the playgrounds. “I would like to be there to see that phase II and III are completed, and and done correctly,” Albertella said.
Lewis, who serves as chairman of Partnership for Warrenton, said that the town and the partnership would like to see a small park created behind Claire's at the Depot Restaurant, on South Third Street.
According to Lewis, there is about a third of an acre between Claire's and the Greenway where an amphitheater or screen, as well as bathroom facilities, could be installed, to be used for resting Greenway users and outdoor entertainment.
A downtown parking lot is also among other projects of paramount importance to Albertella and Lewis. According to Albertella, the town is slowly moving forward with the plan. “I want to explore creative public-private partnerships, so that the parking lot can be self-financing,” he said.
Lewis said that the structure will include mix-use residential, retail and office space. “Conceptually, it won't look like a parking garage,” Lewis said. The building facades will face outward, with the garage tucked in the center. Only the entrances of the parking garage, will be visible from the street.
Over all, Lewis said the council plans to continue doing what it has been doing.” “The town council works very well together,” he said. “We've had certain successes over four years. I'll keep doing this til' I get too old.”
The Warrenton Town Council meets at 7 p.m., on the second Tuesday of each month at Town Hall.