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By Mercia Hobson The Connection n Tuesday, March 17, during a special meeting of the OFairfax County Board of Su- pervisors, at which a quorum was present and voting, all ten supervisors, considered and approved a resolution of a Declaration of Local Emergency Manage- ment effective immediately, March 17, 2020, in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay (D) opened the emergency session. “As people can see, we are spacing, in adherence with CDC (Center for Disease Control) guidelines, and Screenshot we have limited skeleton staff here today Sitting six feet apart, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors considers and unanimously approves a resolution because frankly, our folks are working hard of a Declaration of Local Emergency Management effective immediately, March 17, 2020, in response to the out there in the community to make sure coronavirus (COVID-19). our community remains safe. What you will see at the dais today, you declaration, obviously, that’s something we can see us, but also with us, of “I don’t believe that all would be adhering to. But we don’t make course, we have a full board here, that determination.” all ten members, Supervisor there’s any better place After recognizing County staff for all their Walkinshaw and Supervisor Alcorn, efforts and thanking them, Chairman and because of the spacing, are down in this country or this McKay said, “I don’t believe that there’s any here in front of us.” McKay read the world to make it through better place in this country or this world to resolution and made a motion to make it through trying times than in Fairfax approve. Vice Chairman Gross (D) trying times than in County. I think we have to reflect on the took the role of Chairman. starting point that we have here with our Before the supervisors voted on the Fairfax County.” resources, with our county staff, with our resolution and during board consid- —Jeffrey C. McKay, Chairman, engaged community, with our business com- eration of the Declaration of a Local munity with really everyone who is pitch- State of Emergency, County Attorney Fairfax County Board of Supervisors ing in to help... We will have battle scars Elizabeth D. Teare said that under without a doubt... And so while there’s a Virginia code, the Declaration of Lo- to do the same thing. And that’s not the lot of uncertainty, and we’re declaring an cal Emergency would be signed by case. By making this declaration, the emergency today, there should be a lot of County Executive Bryan Hill as the County Executive is the person who is satisfaction and knowing that we are well Director of Emergency Management empowered to make some of those deci- resourced and ready to take this on.” and as defined in code provision. sions, but it shows that he has the backing “The Board of Supervisors’ role is to of the Board.” GROSS called the motion. “All those in fa- confirm the issuance of that Decla- Bonnie Hobbs/The Connection Gross cited as an example that the Board vor of the motion, please say aye. ‘Aye’. Any ration of Emergency and essentially Jeff McKay did not have the authority to close down a opposed say, nay. That motion carries.” approve it and consent to it,” Teare store. “We can’t do that,” she said. How- In his release later that evening, Chair- said. any, that the Board may wish to take to ever, the Board could go to the County Ex- man McKay said, “This declaration is very According to Gross, this was the same address this emergency. It sort of sets the ecutive who could make the decision, “per- important for small businesses. Now that our procedure used for natural disasters. What- stage for anything you might wish to do haps,” she said. “We’re also at the mercy of jurisdiction is officially under ‘emergency’ ever the cause, the Board had to ratify what with regard to this emergency going for- the governor, who has taken a tremendous status, they can apply for emergency loans the County Executive does. “We (the Board ward.” lead in Virginia, in addressing this emer- from the Small Business Administration.” of Supervisors) don’t have individual pow- gency,” she said. ers to create, to do that. It’s all devolved ANOTHER BENEFIT or value to the dec- Summarizing what the Declaration of an upon the County Executive,” said Supervi- laration said John W. Foust (D-Dranesville) Emergency would do, Chairman McKay sor Gross. was that it sent a message to the commu- said: “What this does is allows the County Fairfax County Supervisor Walter L. Alcorn (D- Hunter nity that this was an emergency situation. Executive obviously authorizes him to act Latest Update Mill) asked what the Board’s role was in “This is all hands on deck,” Supervisor Foust on behalf of the Board in several ways. It March 17: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Daily Update, terms of oversight. Teare said the issuance said. does not allow him (County Executive Posted at 5:30 p.m. A summary of recent news of a Declaration of Local Emergency set an Calling the attention of new members of Bryan Hill, as the Director of Emergency about COVID-19 for March 17, 2020: Emergency Operations Plan in motion. It the Board, Gross said that the Board did Management ) to do anything that’s incon- LATEST DATA ❖ March 17: New Presumptive Positive Cases also facilitated applications for federal and not have nearly as much authority “as some sistent with state law or orders that the Today: 2 state disaster planning efforts, among other people thought” it did. She underlined the governor has put out. And so I just want to ❖ Total Presumptive Positive Cases: 12 things. “And really, the third bullet point that Board’s limit. “The Mayor of the District be clear, on the idea of ordering a store ❖ (Health District includes Fairfax County, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church and towns within I would add is that it serves as the founda- of Columbia is able to do a lot of things, as closed, that’s not something that the County the County) tional document for additional actions if the mayor. People think we should be able would be doing. If the governor made that Source: Fairfax County Emergency Information www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Burke Connection ❖ March 19-25, 2020 ❖ 3 Opinion Burke www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Unprecedented Virus Crisis @BurkeConnection An independent, locally owned weekly newspaper delivered to Cash reserves will help buffer the coming recession. homes and businesses. Published by Local Media Connection LLC By Sen. Scott Surovell recession. The American yield $122 million and Stafford $56 million. This (D-36) curve inverted in January, and the could be in jeopardy if revenues fail. We also 1606 King Street markets briefly paused and then budgeted major investments in higher educa- Alexandria, Virginia 22314 n Thursday, we went on speculating. We cau- tion, increases in Medicaid reimbursements Free digital edition delivered to passed the Senate tiously budgeted and planned for and water quality funding. your email box. Go to O Budget and nearly a recession with significant re- The budget also contained several of my re- connectionnewspapers.com/subscribe as soon as it was serves. quests for the 36th District prerogatives. First, passed, the coronavirus situation While legislators are beginning it requires the Commonwealth to collaborate NEWS DEPARTMENT: exploded. While this virus crisis is to talk among ourselves and with with Fairfax and Prince William Counties to [email protected] unprecedented, our budget was the Governor’s Office about next study the extension of the Blue Line from the Kemal Kurspahic well-structured and balanced as steps, the Governor has significant Franconia-Springfield Station to Lorton, Editor ❖ 703-778-9414 required by our constitution, and authority to make budgetary de- Woodbridge, Potomac Mills and potentially [email protected] we are prepared for a recession. cisions without legislative approval if revenues Quantico. Second, the budget funds the cre- Virginia has its largest cash reserves in the do not meet forecasts. There some actions that ation of the Prince William County Public Andrea Worker Contributing Writer history of the Commonwealth – over $2 bil- could require a special session such as unem- Defender’s Office creating twenty-five new at- [email protected] lion. We have been building this reserve both ployment benefit extensions, temporary Med- torney positions along with ten support staff. because of constitutionally required deposits icaid expansions, limitations on liability, mini- Third, there is a $3 million grant for the U.S. Jean Card to our Revenue Reserve or “Rainy Day” Fund, mum income payments or sick leave expan- Army Museum which was saved largely due to Production Editor [email protected] but also because analysts have been warning sions. We will see where things go.