Possibility of council term limits addressed

View larger image Carl Rinker

Ex-member said other towns considered option of limiting how often a person could serve

By Kaitlin Mayhew -- kmayhew@nvdaily.com

STRASBURG -- After looking into concerns voiced by a resident at its last meeting, Town Manager Judson Rex informed the Town Council at its Monday work session that there is no state law that would allow the panel to establish term limits.

At the Dec. 13 council meeting, former Councilman Carl Rinker, of Strasburg, addressed the panel and said that other towns, such as New Market and Front Royal, had considered the option of limiting the number of times a person could serve on council.

Rex said on Monday that since the meeting staff has investigated and found no grounds for this claim.

According to council documents, Mark Flynn, of the Virginia Municipal League, who was consulted on the matter, wrote that there is currently no law that would even allow establishment of such restrictions.

"I did contact Carl and gave him this information," said Mayor Tim Taylor.

The council also discussed land-use designations that are part of a long-term "community plan" on Monday.

Rex showed a future land-use map that he has been working on in conjunction with the Planning Commission that details plans for the land along John Marshall Highway (Va. 55) reaching to the North Shenandoah Industrial Park and then to Interstate 81.

Rex said there will still be more discussion as to whether to leave the stretch of land along Va. 55 to the Interstate 81 interchange zoned commercial or to rezone it industrial.

Councilman Robert Baker voiced concern about rezoning the land.

"We're not going to get the same revenue from say a Mercury Paper Co. as we are from a Martin's [food store]," he said.

Rex responded saying that wasn't necessarily the case. He cited machinery and tools taxes that would come in from some form of industry moving in, as well as the impact of bringing high-paying jobs to the area.

"Commercial land will also generate more traffic than industrial," Baker said.

He said if he were deciding whether to put a store such as a Martin's in that location, he would worry about patrons having difficulty getting to it.

Rex agreed that the traffic patterns may need to be looked at.

The council decided to reignite the conversation at a joint meeting with the Planning Commission scheduled for Jan. 17.