The Manassas City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to allow remote meetings for the next six months during the coronavirus outbreak, as well as to allow individual council members to remotely participate while sick, disabled, or on vacation.
During the meeting, Manassas council members sat one chair apart while councilwoman Pamela Sebesky and Councilwoman Michelle Davis-Younger wore masks.
The voice of City Attorney Craig Brown was piped in through speakerphone, as he led the council through the legal ins and outs of holding remote meetings. Under the law, the city council must continue to have a quorum in order to vote and carry out the city's business, as well as setting a date and time for the public meeting.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
Debra Howe, a former NOVA student who has gone on to a successful career in healthcare, is giving back to the school by donating $1 million to her existing endowed scholarship fund for NOVA nursing students.
According to a press release, the Northern Virginia Community College Educational Foundation (NOVA Foundation) is proud to announce an exceptional gift of $1 million from donor Debra Coffman Howe of Palm Beach, Florida.
Howe is adding to her existing endowed scholarship fund to increase her support for NOVA nursing students. Supporting NOVA nursing is more important than ever given the current pandemic. Howe has also generously donated to the NOVA COVID-19 Emergency Student Aid Fund.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
In the wake of Governor Northam’s recent “Stay at Home” order for the State of Virginia, Jean Humbrecht, a Manassas-based attorney hosted a Facebook Live event on Wednesday discussing the legal ramifications of the order.
Humbrecht explained that not only Virginia but Maryland and Washington, D.C. also have stay at home orders. She explained that in Virginia, if a citizen violates the order, it is a class one misdemeanor and they can face up to 12 months in jail and a fine up to $2,500.
Humbrecht encouraged people who have to travel to Maryland or Washington, D.C. for work to research their laws since they will apply to them while they are there. Humbrecht reiterated that you are subject to the laws and penalties of the place that you are going to.
Humbrecht noted that although things are constantly changing, as of right now Maryland’s rule forbids travel unless it is “absolutely necessary”, and lawbreakers face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.
Washington, D.C. is permitting essential work and travel only, with up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.
Humbrecht said that she’s been getting a lot of questions about the laws because they’re not entirely clear. One question someone asked her was if they can go to their mailbox. Humbrecht encouraged people to use common sense, but if you don’t think you should go or you don’t have to go there, then you shouldn’t, she said.
As far as if Humbrecht thinks people will actually get arrested?
“It’s too soon to tell,” she said. “This is such an unprecedented time, nobody really knows.” The Virginia State Police said in a recent press release that they will address violations with warnings before being charged.
It’s now clear the Virginia State Police have mobilized and are enforcing the governor’s stay-at-home order. A police press sent on April 1, 2020 states:
“Governor Northam has directed state and local law enforcement to initially address violations of the following Executive Order 53 and Executive Order 55 directives with education and warnings. Persistent violation of these Executive Order (EO) directives can result in an individual(s) or business being charged with a class one misdemeanor, which carries up to a year in jail and $2,500 fine.”
During Humbrect’s webinar, someone asked if they are allowed to take an Uber. Humbrecht responded that while Uber drivers are not listed as essential in Virginia, they’re not listed as non-essential, either. If you have to get in an Uber, be make sure it’s for an essential reason, said Humbrect.
“These orders aren’t very clear,” Humbrecht said. “It goes back to common sense,” she said. Another question someone asked her was to what extent someone can exercise, which is allowed in the orders. Humbrecht replied to use common sense, and that going for a walk or a run for a few miles is fine.
Humbrecht added that it is possible the governor could revise his stay-at-home order, which ends June 10. The coronavirus outbreak is due to reach a peak in the state in mid-May, according to modeling data from the University of Washington.
“These rules and laws are constantly changing,” Humbrecht said.
Humbrecht also noted that because the region’s courthouses are closed, you can’t just walk into court and file a civil lawsuit. Lawyers are still working, but a lot of deadlines are being extended, she noted.
Another person asked if social gatherings of less than 10 neighbors sitting in lawn chairs 6 feet apart are alright. Humbrecht said that was fine.
More information related to the statewide “Stay at Home” order can be found online
The Marine Corps Marathon Organization (MCMO) announced that they are cancelling their Historic Half Weekend events scheduled for May in Fredericksburg following the statewide Stay at Home order issued by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, but they are providing other ways for runners to participate while socially distancing.
According to a press release from the Marine Corps Marathon Organization (MCMO), the MCMO has announced that the 2020 Marine Corps Historic Half Weekend events, scheduled for Friday, May 15 through Sunday, May 17 have been cancelled to support the wellbeing of the running community, residents, Marines and partners.
The event was due to take place outside the Fredericksburg Conference Center in Fredericksburg.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
The MPCS School Board asked Dr. McDade to remain at his current post and delay his retirement by one year. “For continuity and consistency, particularly in these stressful times, the Board felt that the best course of action for our school community would be to ask Dr. McDade to remain at MPCS,” [School Board Chair Debbie] McIntyre- Yurkovich said. McDade agreed with the Board and said the decision to postpone retirement was fairly easy. “Never would I have envisioned that my final year at MPCS would include massive closures around the world,” said McDade. “I do not want to add undue stress to the School Board or to the staff and students of Manassas Park.”Prior to announcing his delayed retirement, McDade had "been deeply involved" with the response to the coronavirus, and told Potomac Local News in an interview prior to his Twitter announcement that "I plan to give it my full attention right up until June 30," McDade said. McDade began working in the Manassas Park City Schools Division as a principal at Manassas Park Middle School.
"I have had 19 absolutely wonderful glorious years with Manassas Park City Schools," McDade said.In 2010, McDade was selected as the next division’s superintendent -- the 8th superintendent in the history of Manassas Park. During his time in charge, McDade was part of the team that offered created the family market, which helps distribute food to as many as 700 needy families in the city on the third Thursday of every month, and he said that gave him a great deal of satisfaction to be around that.
"It's just a chance to give back to our community," McDade said.Now, in the wake of the coronavirus, schools across Virginia have been shuttered for the remainder of the academic year. The family market, however, held in the parking lot of Manassas Park High School so families could continue to get food, with the help of the event sponsor Capital Area Food Bank. The family market food distribution is an addition to the prepackaged meals that are being distributed to residents in the wake of the coronavirus closure. McDade emphasized that throughout the pandemic, he has focused on the continuity of the school division’s food services city residents both young and old.
McDade came to Virginia from Canada to attend UVA, where he completed his Doctorate in Education with the intention of going back to Nova Scotia. But he desperately wanted to be a high school principal - and he found that opportunity here in the commonwealth. McDade was hired as an assistant principal at a school near Charlottesville and worked there for six years. When an opportunity opened within the Manassas Park City Schools in 2000, McDade applied and was hired. He and his wife, Norbi, then moved to Prince William County. After working as a principal at Manassas Park High School for five years, McDade went onto become an associate superintendent and then was named superintendent in 2010, a Manassas Park City Schools press release states. McDade Potomac Local News that while the search for the new superintendent was occurring prior to the announcement he was staying on for one more year, he was completely divorced from the new superintendent hiring process. There was a public hearing about the process the night of our interview, which he said he would not attend. "That's the way I want it," McDade said. The city will hire a new superintendent, eventually, and McDade says he’ll be happy to show that person the ropes. A total of 3,640 students were enrolled in Manassas Park City Schools at the start of the 2019-2020 school year, according to the Virginia Department of Education data. The school division has two elementary schools, one middle school, and a high school.Student meal distribution will continue today at 4 pm at the main entrance of Manassas Park High School. Prepackaged grab-and-go meals are no charge for children ages 18 and under. Safe social distancing practices will be in effect. Follow volunteer direction upon arrival.
— MPCSchools (@MPCSVA) March 24, 2020
The Manassas City Council unanimously voted to give local restaurants a break.
In a bipartisan decision at a special meeting Monday night, leaders opted to extend the deadline for city eateries to pay their monthly meals taxes. Originally due this month on March 20, restaurants now have until June 20 to pay their meals taxes accumulated for the months of March, April, and May.
Late fees won’t be applied to those who are paying late. The grace period does not apply for meals taxes owed to the city from January and February.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
In an eerie and nearly empty city council chamber, Manassas leaders moved ahead with the city's annual budget process in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
The City Council on Monday, March 16, 2020, chose to advertise a property tax rate of $1.48 per every $100 of the assessed Real Estate property value for its budget for Fiscal Year 2021, which begins July 1.
A tax levied on Real Estate is the key funding source for the city's proposed $253 million budget. The council took the vote during an emergency meeting called by Mayor Hal Parrish II. Â
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
According to the City's website, as of March 18, 2020, the Offices of the City Treasurer, City Commissioner of Revenue, Registrar, Community Development (Inspections/Permits), and Department of Social Services are closed to the public. Residents are also able to conduct business online, by email, by phone, or by the drop-box located outside of City Hall. According to a document from the city, they have established an emergency food hotline for senior citizen residents. The hotline website encourages seniors in need of food during the pandemic to email [email protected] or call them at their food hotline at 703-335-8802. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from noon to 4 p.m. The Community Center will be closed until April 14 to protect the most vulnerable population (seniors) who are active users. The city's community center will remain open for religious worship services currently renting space. The city will be freezing memberships for community center members while closed. According to recommendations from Manassas City Manager Laszlo A. Palko, the city is working with Paypal and Merchant services to waive online fees for residents until April 14. This will help facilitate online payments of water and trash bills, according to the city. If these vendors will not waive the fee, the city will take on these expenditures for residents- an estimated $12,000 to $20,000 over the next 30 days, city documents state. With the closure of the community center, the Palko recommends continuing to pay their part-time employees while they are working fewer hours in order to preserve their employee base, reduce income burdens resulting from this pandemic, and to ensure the city limits the economic impact of this pandemic. Palko has requested spending authority up to $10,000, and to seek FEMA reimbursement post-Pandemic. In order to be able to secure FEMA reimbursements, Palko, along with the city's Governing Body, declared a Local Emergency. This was ratified on Tuesday, March 17, Manassas Park Mayor Janette Rishell confirmed. Palko has also authorized the extension of the Elderly Tax Relief deadline from April 1 to May 1 so that senior citizens can practice social distancing during the pandemic.In accordance with the Governor’s order to limit public gatherings, the City is complying to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and to protect our residents. Effective today, City Hall will be closed to the public, except by appointments only. See: https://t.co/KmNNySJNFH pic.twitter.com/gGwMQXPe5K
— CityofManassasPark (@ManassasParkGov) March 18, 2020
Mary Washington Healthcare is hoping to ward off the spread of coronavirus by no longer allowing visitors at area facilities.
According to a press release, to minimize the risk to their patients and staff, Mary Washington Healthcare is taking extraordinary measures. Effective Sunday, March 15, 2020, at 8:00 p.m., Mary Washington Healthcare facilities, including Mary Washington Hospital and Stafford Hospital, will no longer allow visitors.
Mary Washington Healthcare will allow laboring mothers to have one designated support person during their hospital stay. Patients who are minors will be allowed two parents or guardians to remain with the patient.
