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Town sends out ‘Request for Proposal’ for search consultant to recruit new Town Manager

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Town Hall Front Royal, Virginia

Here is the Request for Proposal that the Town Council has released for a search consultant to recruit a new Town Manager.

PART ONE – PURPOSE
The Town of Front Royal invites the submission of sealed proposals from executive search consultants with national experience in recruiting candidates for the position of Town Manager.

The Town is looking for a search firm that is capable of showcasing the community’s unique amenities, quality of life, and professional organization to attract a seasoned manager with demonstrated experience and success in leadership and management. The desired Town Manager should be someone that works, leads, and manages in a collaborative manner and can work with
Council, staff, and stakeholders to establish a vision, identify strategic goals and execute actions in an efficient fashion. The Town needs a leader with the highest ethical standards and integrity.

This Request for Proposal (RFP) is being issued by the Town of Front Royal with the intent to enter into a Contract for Services. The awarded contract will be for a period of one (1) year,
beginning on the date of final signature. The successful proposing firm will have experience in providing such services to government entities and other organizations of similar size and
complexity in the region and have the staff capacity and expertise to do so for the Town of Front Royal.

Cooperative Contracting
This solicitation is being conducted in accordance with the provisions of Virginia Code § 2.2-4304. This clause is intended to allow the successful Contractor to offer the goods and services requested in this solicitation to other public bodies. Offering to sell goods and services to other jurisdictions is voluntary on the Contractor’s part. A public body’s participation in the contract
is also voluntary. Failure to offer the terms and conditions of the contract to other jurisdictions neither disqualifies a bidder nor adversely affect the award of the contract. The successful Contractor must deal directly with a participating public body concerning placement of orders, issuance of Purchase Orders, contractual disputes, invoices and payments. In no event shall the
Town of Front Royal, its officials or staff be responsible for any costs, damages or injury as a result of any Town contract extended to a public body by the successful Contractor. The Town
of Front Royal acts only as the “Contracting Agent” for this contract. The Town assumes no responsibility for any notification of the availability of the contract for use by other public bodies. Other public bodies desiring to use the contract shall make their own legal determination as to whether the use of the contract is consistent with their laws, regulations, and other policies.

Any participating public body has the option of executing a separate contract with the successful Contractor. Contracts entered into with a participating public body may contain general terms
and conditions unique to that public body. If, when preparing such a contract, the general terms and conditions of the participating public body are unacceptable to the successful contractor, the
Contractor may withdraw its extension of the contract to that participating public body.

An RFP is used for procurement of services in situations where price is not the sole determining factor and the award will be based on a combination of cost and technical factors (Best Value).
Through its proposal, the Offeror offers a solution to the objectives, problems, and needs specified in this RFP, and defines how it intends to meet (or exceed) the RFP requirements.

The Town of Front Royal may cancel this Request for Proposals or reject proposals at any time prior to an award and is not required to furnish a statement of the reasons why a particular proposal
was not deemed to be the most advantageous (Code of Virginia, § 2.2-4359D).

INFORMATION
The legislative and policy making body of the Town is the Mayor and the six-member Town Council whose members are elected. The Town Council appoints the Town Manager, who serves as Chief Administrative Officer. It is the Town Manager’s responsibility to hire department heads. The Town currently employs approximately 172 full-time equivalent employees.

The Town has contracted with an Interim Town Manager while the search for a permanent Town Manager is underway.

The Town of Front Royal has an estimated population of 14,666, and Warren County has an additional 23,404 residents surrounding Front Royal.

Location
Front Royal is centrally located near the intersection of Interstates 66 and 81, and 70 miles west of Washington DC. The Town is also located at the confluence of the North and South Forks of
the Shenandoah River. Front Royal is also just south of the Virginia Inland Port, a truck container to rail port network serving the deep-water ports of Virginia in Norfolk.

Education
Two top-rated universities are located in Warren County: Christendom College and George Mason University’s Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation located at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

The Warren County Public School system offers students accredited courses of study in addition to offering students programs at the Blue Ridge Technical Center, the Project Lead the Way
Study Programs in engineering and biomedical sciences, and study at the Mountain Vista Governor’s School. In addition, Front Royal is home to Randolph Macon Academy, an Air Force
affiliated co-ed day and boarding school for students in grades 6 through 12.

STATEMENT OF NEEDS
The Town needs to develop a plan for soliciting potential candidates and presenting finalists to the Town Council by:


Interviewing the Mayor, Town Council, and Department Heads to determine an overall understanding of the Town and how it functionally operates.

Questioning all Town Council Members and the Mayor to develop the general criteria and skillsets for the position of Town Manager.

Questioning all Town Council Members and the Mayor to determine a general vision they have for the future of the Town in order to ensure the finalists have the same general vision.

Designing a robust public participation process for Council approval so that residents and employees can provide their comments and thoughts about attributes they want in the Town
Manager.

Meeting with the Town Council as necessary to facilitate the development of an appropriate candidate profile and list of priorities for the new Town Manager.

Developing a position profile, and all recruiting material in conjunction with the Town Council, Interim Town Manager, and other key individuals and sources selected by the Council, that
addresses the specific leadership qualities, duties, responsibilities, operational issues, education and training, personal characteristics and traits, and other factors that are relevant to the position.

Conducting all recruiting efforts for the position including targeted mailings, selected advertising, networking, direct inquiries, and use of consultant’s knowledge of potential candidates.

Answering questions from candidates and collecting application materials.

Reviewing all application materials received, comparing them to the candidate profile and performing screening interviews as needed.

Working with the Town Council to select 4-6 finalists; prepare a summary report on all finalists; determine and prepare appropriate interview/selection process for Council, staff and the
community to conduct in-depth interviews of each finalist; and participate and manage all interviews and community sessions with the assistance of the Interim Town Manager.

Conducting detailed background investigations (including, but not limited to, social media) and verify references and credentials of finalists. Prepare a detailed report on each finalist.

Assisting the Town Council and all stakeholders in the interview and selection process.

Assisting in the negotiation of an employment agreement with the final candidate, as directed by the Town Council and coordinated with the Interim Town Manager and Town Attorney.

The consultant may continue to provide the services above until a Town Manager is appointed, or until the contract is cancelled by the Town. In addition, should the newly appointed Town
Manager be terminated for cause or resign within twenty-four (24) months, the consultant may conduct a replacement search at no charge.

Schedule:
The Town intends to award a contract before July 1, 2020. The Town is interested in an expedited yet thorough recruitment process, and in completing the search and selection process for the new Town Manager as soon as practical.

PART TWO – PROPOSAL PREPARATION & SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Proposers are asked to respond and to tab their proposals according to the following items in the sequence presented:

Qualifications. Describe the background, public sector experience, and executive search capabilities of your firm. Please give specific information regarding your qualifications to conduct Town Manager searches for entities similar to the Town of Front Royal. Describe in what ways have members of your firm developed personal contacts with potential candidates for this position.

Scope of Services. Provide a scope of services and a proposed outline of tasks, products, and recruitment schedule. Major proposed deviations from the desired scope of services outlined in
this request for proposal should be clearly noted.

Consulting Staff. Provide the name of the individual responsible for the recruitment including subcontractors, the percentage of the time said individual will allocate to the recruitment, and the
specific experience of the individual relative to the recruitment. Describe how many successful searches the consulting staff has conducted within the last two years. Identify how many other
executive searches the responsible person currently is involved in.

References. Provide a list of a minimum of five (5) clients who can verify your firm’s ability to provide the scope of services requested, include a brief description of the work along with contract award and completion dates for each recruitment. For each reference, include the name(s), telephone number(s) and email address(es) of the client’s project manager.

Cost. Provide a cost proposal that includes a lump sum fee and estimate of detailed expenses.

Approach. Provide a general description, based on experience, as to how the firm would approach the process, including methodology and estimated timelines, and how they would involve stakeholders and work together with the Town towards final appointment of the successful candidate. Identify how the firm will ensure that the Town receives prompt and timely attention throughout this process.

Sample Materials. Please provide 3-5 recent samples of recruiting specifications, community/agency profiles, recruitment brochures, invitee letters, announcements, and so forth from your firm.

Required Signature Pages. See Exhibit B.

Submission of Proposals & Questions
Sealed proposals, subject to the specifications and conditions contained hereto, will be received in the Purchasing Department until 2:00 P.M., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019.

Proposals are to be mailed to the Town of Front Royal, ATTN: Alisa Scott, Purchasing Manager, P.O. Box 1560, Front Royal, Virginia 22630. Proposals may also be hand delivered until the scheduled date and time shown above to the Purchasing Department, 102 E. Main Street, Front Royal.

The outermost envelope which a proposal and copies is contained therein must be clearly marked “EXECUTIVE SEARCH”. The Town of Front Royal is not responsible for delays in the delivery
of the mail by the U.S. Postal Service, private couriers, or the inter-office mail system. It is the sole responsibility of the Offeror to ensure this its proposal reaches the Town of Front Royal by
the designated date and hour.

Any proposal received after the announced time and date of the submittal deadline will not be considered.

One (1) original and nine (9) copies of your proposal must be received by the Town by December 4, 2019 Proposals shall be submitted the following address:

Town of Front Royal
Attn: Alisa Scott, Purchasing Manager
PO Box 1560
102 E. Main Street
Front Royal VA 22630

If the Town of Front Royal has closed due to inclement weather and/or emergency situations prior to or at the time set aside for receipt of proposals, the published due date will default to the
next open business day at the same time.

Deadline changes and any addenda shall be transmitted by e-mail to all registered holders of the Request for Proposal. Request for a copy of the RFP does not commit the holder to submit a
proposal.

All costs of proposal preparation and presentation shall be borne by each Offeror. The Town of Front Royal is not liable for any cost incurred by the Offeror prior to issuance of a contract.

Submittal of a proposal indicates acceptance by the proposer of the conditions contained in this request. The Town of Front Royal reserves the right to reject without prejudice any or all
responses. The Town of Front Royal reserves the right to waive formalities and negotiate with any proposer. The Town of Front Royal reserves the right to amend the specifications of this
Request for Proposals and request new and/or updated proposals at any time prior to award of contract.

The Town shall select the best proposal based upon the evaluation criteria.

Each Offeror is responsible for examining and understanding this RFP prior to submitting a proposal. Offerors assume all risk of errors contained in this procurement process and no contract
awarded will be increased to cover costs that should have been anticipated by the Offeror in examining the documents.

The Town of Front Royal reserves the right to request verification, validation or clarification of any information contained in a proposal.

Proposals shall be valid for ninety (90) days following the opening date. No proposal may be withdrawn or changed during this period.

Submitted proposals shall be available to the public for review for a period of sixty (60) days after award of contract.

All communication regarding this RFP shall be directed to the following contact:

Julie Bush – HR Director
Town of Front Royal
102 E. Main Street
P.O. Box 1560
Front Royal, VA 22630
(540) 635 – 3929
jbush@frontroyalva.com

Ms. Bush will provide all respondents with any information required to successfully prepare a response which will meet the Town’s needs.

Contact with other Town employees regarding this RFP is prohibited without prior consent.

Vendors that directly contact employees risk elimination.

Nothing herein is intended to exclude any responsible firm or in any way restrain or restrict competition. On the contrary, all responsible firms are encouraged to submit proposals.

The awarding authority for this contract is the Town of Front Royal. It is understood and agreed that the contract generated from this Proposal shall be subject to annual appropriations by the
Town of Front Royal Town Council. Should the Council fail to appropriate funds for the contract, the contract will be terminated when funds are exhausted. There shall be no penalty should the
Council fail to make annual appropriations for the contract.

The Town of Front Royal reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals; to waive informalities; to negotiate with the lowest qualified Offeror in order to stay within available budget
funding; and to award the project as deemed in its judgment to be in the best interest of the Town of Front Royal.

All Offerors shall abide by all applicable State and Federal laws.

The Town of Front Royal does not discriminate against small and minority businesses.

The Town of Front Royal reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals.

PART THREE EVALUATION AND AWARD CRITERIA
Each proposal will be independently evaluated on the criteria listed below. Points assigned to each category are listed in parentheses:

Consultant Experience/Qualifications (20 points). Experience in providing services similar to those requested and having obtained favorable outcomes (“Favorable outcomes” should be
measured in terms of number of Town Managers placed, length of service of Town Managers placed and level of satisfaction with those Town Managers).

Cost (10 points). Total estimated fees and expenses for the services broken down by task. While cost will be a consideration in the award of the contract, the contract will not necessarily be
awarded to the firm submitting the lowest cost proposal. The Town’s intent is to award the contract to the firm whose proposal is deemed to offer the best overall value and fit to the needs
of the organization.

Dependability (20 points). Ability and commitment to complete the work within the required time frame and proposed cost as evidenced by documentation provided through references.

Sample Materials (10 points). Quality and quantity of recruiting specifications, community/agency profiles, recruitment brochures, invitee letters and announcements provided.

References (20 points). Quality and quantity of client references provided. Evaluation of past recruitments as stated by references in the proposal and of relevance of past experience as
reported in this submission.

Quality of Response (20 points). The overall quality of the response, conformance to format, approach, and its responsiveness to this request for proposal.

PART FOUR GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS ETHICS IN PUBLIC CONTRACTING
By submitting their proposal, all Offerors certify that their proposal is made without collusion or fraud and that they have not offered or received any kickbacks or inducements from any other
Offeror, supplier, manufacturer or sub-contractor in connection with their proposal, and that they have not conferred with any public employee having official responsibility for this procurement
transaction, any payment, loan, subscription, advance, deposit of money, services or anything more than nominal value, present or promised, unless consideration of substantially equal or greater
value was exchanged.

LICENSES AND PERMITS
The Offeror agrees that it has procured all licenses, permits, or other like permission required by law to conduct or engage in the activity requested within this RFP; that it will procure all additional licenses, permits, or like permission required by law during the term of the Contract; and that it will keep such licenses, permits, and permissions in full force and effect during the term of the Contract.

INEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
The Offeror understands and agrees that the relationship of the Offeror to the Town arising out of the Contract shall be that of Independent Contractor. It is understood that the Offeror, or its staff
and employees, are not employees of the Town and are, therefore, not entitled to any benefits. The Offeror shall be responsible for reporting and accounting for all State, Federal, Social Security,
and local taxes where applicable.

PAYMENT
To the Independent Contractor:

a. The Town shall promptly pay for the completed services or delivered goods described in the RFP by the required date. The required payment date shall be either: (1) the date on which payment is due under the terms of the contract, or (2) if a date is not established by the contract, not more than forty-five (45) days after goods or services are received or not more than forty-five (45) days after an invoice is rendered, whichever is later. Separate payment dates may be specified for contracts under which goods or services are provided in a series of partial executions or deliveries to the extent that the contract provides for separate payment for partial execution or delivery. Within twenty (20) days after the receipt of an invoice for goods or services, the Town shall notify the supplier of any defect or impropriety that would prevent payment by the required payment date. If the Town fails to make payment by the required payment date, the Town shall pay any finance charges assess by the supplier that shall not exceed one percent (1%) per month. Where payment is made by mail, the date of the postmark shall be deemed to be the date the payment is
made.

b. Individual Independent Contractors shall provide their Social Security numbers, and proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations shall provide the Town of Front Royal with a Federal Employer Identification number, prior to receiving any payment from the Town.

c. Invoices for items ordered, delivered and accepted shall be submitted by the Independent Contractor directly to this payment address:

Town of Front Royal
Purchasing Department
P.O. Box 1560
Front Royal, VA 22630

All invoices shall show the applicable Purchase Order number.

d. The Independent Contractor shall monthly furnish an invoice to the Town for services rendered that month. All goods or services provided under this contract or Purchase Order, that are to be paid for with public funds, shall be billed by the Independent Contractor at the contract price, regardless of which Town department is being billed.

e. Unreasonable Charges. Under certain emergency procurements and for most time and material purchases, final job costs cannot be accurately determined at the time orders are placed. In such cases, Independent Contractors should put on notice that final payment in full is contingent on a determination of reasonableness with respect to all invoiced charges.

Charges which appear to be unreasonable will be researched and challenged, and that portion of the invoice held in abeyance until a settlement can be reached. Upon determining that invoiced charges are not reasonable, the Town shall promptly notify the Independent Contractor, in writing, as to those charges which it considers unreasonable and the basis for the determination. A Independent Contractor may not institute legal action unless a settlement cannot be reached within thirty (30) days of notification. The provisions of this section do not relieve an agency of its prompt payment obligations with respect to those charges which are not in dispute. (Code of Virginia § 2.2-4363).

To Subcontractors:
a. An Independent Contractor awarded a contract under this solicitation is hereby obligated:

(1) To pay the subcontractor(s) within seven (7) days of the Independent Contractor’s receipt of payment from the Town for the proportionate share of the payment received for work performed by the subcontractor(s) under the contract; or (2) To notify the agency and the subcontractor(s), in writing, of the Independent Contractor’s intention to withhold payment and the reason.

b. The Independent Contractor is obligated to pay the subcontractor(s) interest at the rate of one percent (1%) per month (unless otherwise provided under the terms of the contract) on all amounts owed by the Independent Contractor that remain unpaid seven (7) days following receipt of payment from the Town, except for amounts withheld as stated in (2) above. The date of mailing of any payment by U.S. Mail is deemed to be payment to the addressee. These provisions apply to each sub-tier contractor performing under the primary contract. An Independent Contractor’s obligation to pay an interest charge to a subcontractor cannot be construed to be an obligation of the Town of Front Royal.

REPORTS
The Independent Contractor shall complete, maintain, and submit to the Town all records and reports and lists of services rendered when such services are rendered.

SERVICES RENDERED
The Independent Contractor shall perform all services to be rendered pursuant to the Contract at the location specified above. The Independent Contractor agrees to maintain all facilities and
equipment used by Independent Contractor under the Contract in clean, sanitary, and safe condition and free from defects of every kind.

TAXES
The Independent Contractor shall pall all County, Town, State and Federal taxes required by law and resulting from the work or traceable thereto, under whatever name levied. Said taxes shall
not be in addition to the Contract price between the Town of Front Royal and the Independent Contractor, as the taxes shall be solely an obligation of the Independent Contractor and not the
Town, and the Town shall be held harmless for same by the Independent Contractor. The Town of Front Royal is exempt from State Sales Tax and Federal Excise Tax. A Tax Exemption
Certificate indicating the Town’s exempt status will be furnished by the Town of Front Royal upon request.

BUSINESS LICENSE REQUIREMENT
If a business is in the Town of Front Royal, it is unlawful to conduct or engage in that business without obtaining a business license.

COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION
The Independent Contractor does not and shall not during the performance of the Contract for goods and services in the Commonwealth, knowingly employ an unauthorized alien as defined in
the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW
The Independent Contractor shall comply with section 2.2-4311.2 of the Code of Virginia pertaining to foreign and domestic businesses authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth.

TERMINATION FOR CAUSE
The Contract may be terminated by the Town upon fifteen (15) days written notice to the Independent Contractor to the address first named above in the event of substantial failure or default of the Independent Contractor to perform in accordance with the terms hereof through no fault of the Town’s.

TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE
The obligation to provide further services under the Contract may be terminated by the Town for its convenience and not for cause upon fifteen (15) days written notice. The Independent Contractor shall be compensated for work performed through the date of termination and for termination expenses, including any expenses directly attributable to termination and for which
the Independent Contractor is not otherwise compensated. Termination expenses shall not, however, include loss profits on services not performed as a result of such termination for
convenience.

NOTICE
Any notice which is required to be given, or which may be given under the Contract, shall be sent to those mailing addresses noted in the first paragraph of the Contract.

NON-ASSIGNABILITY
The Independent Contractor understands that the Contract is a contract with the professional services of the Independent Contractor and that it is made by the Town in reliance on the Independent Contractor’s personal skills and knowledge in the activity to be conducted and as represented by the Independent Contractor. Accordingly, the Contract is non-assignable by the
Independent Contractor without the express written advance permission of the Town.

INSURANCE
The Independent Contractor shall procure and maintain the general liability insurances shown below, with the Town named as Additional Insured, for protection from claims arising out of
performance of services caused by negligent, reckless, or willful error, omission or act for which the Independent Contractor is legally liable. The Independent Contractorshall deliver to the Town,
upon execution of the Contract, certificates of such insurance. Insurance shall provide for coverage effective through the date of the end of the Project.

Comprehensive General Liability Insurance, naming the Town as Additional Insured
Automobile Liability, naming the Town as Additional Insured
Worker’s Compensation

AMOUNT OF INSURANCE REQUIRED
Comprehensive General Liability Insurance – $1,000,000 Minimum per Incident
Automobile Liability Insurance – $1,000,000 bodily injury and $1,000,000 property damage
Worker’s Compensation – As required by the Commonwealth of Virginia

INDEMNIFICATION
The Contractor shall indemnify, keep and hold harmless the Town of Front Royal and its members of Council, officers, directors, agents, employees and volunteers against any and all claims of
injuries, death, damage to property, theft, patent claims, suits, liabilities, judgements, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) which may otherwise accrue against the Town in
consequence of the granting of a contract which may otherwise result therefrom, if it shall be determined that the act was caused through negligence or error, or omission of the contractor or
his or her employees, or that of the subcontractor or his or her employees, if any; and the contractor shall, at his or her own expense, appear, defend and pay all charges of attorneys and all costs and other expenses arising therefrom or incurred in connection therewith; and if any judgement shall be rendered against the Town in any such action, the contractor shall, at his or her own expense, satisfy and discharge the same. The contractor expressly understands and agrees that any performance bond or insurance protection required by this contract, or otherwise provided by the contractor shall in no way limit the responsibility to indemnify, keep and save harmless and defend the Town as herein provided. The provisions of this section shall survive the completions,
terminations or expiration of the contract.

ENTIRE CONTRACT
The Contract constitutes the entire agreement between the parties pertaining to the subject matter of the Contract and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements and understandings of the parties in connection with the subject matter. No modification of the Contract shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by both parties.

STANDARD OF CARE
The Independent Contractor shall perform the services as described by the Contract expeditiously and diligently and in accordance with the standard of care and skill ordinarily exercised under similar conditions by reputable members of its profession or trade practicing in the same or similar locality within the Commonwealth of Virginia existing as of the date such services are provided and in accordance with all applicable laws, codes, and regulations in effect as of the date such services are provided

ENFORCEMENT
The Contract shall be governed by the laws of the State of Virginia. Any action maintained by either party for the enforcement or interpretation of the terms of the Contract shall be filed in the
courts of Warren County, Virginia.

PART FIVE ATTACHMENTS
Any resulting contract will be based on the Town of Front Royal sample contract – Attachment A.

All proposals are to include the Town’s required signature pages – Attachment B.

THIS IS A SAMPLE AGREEMENT THAT WILL BE ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. THE AGREEMENT IS PART OF THIS SOLICITATION.

THIS AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE TOWN ATTORNEY.

ATTACHMENT A SAMPLE CONTRACT FOR SERVICES
THIS CONTRACT FOR SERVICES is made and entered into this ______ day of __________________, 20_____, by and between THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL, VIRGINIA, a Municipal Corporation, whose address is 102 East Main Street, Front Royal, Virginia 22630 (hereinafter referred to as the “Town”), and INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR., a STATE Corporation, whose street address is INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR ADDRESS, and whose mailing address is SAME (hereinafter called the “Contractor”).

W I T N E S S E T H:
That for and in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, the Town agrees to purchase, and the Contractor agrees provide the following described services:

EXECUTIVE SEARCH SERVICES
1. Place of Service Performance/Delivery:
FRONT ROYAL, VA 22630

2. Time of Service Delivery: Normal working business hours for this project will be 7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, unless otherwise approved by the Town of Front Royal. Work will not be permitted on any Town of Front Royal holidays, which include New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Day, and Christmas Day.

3. Term of Contract: This Contract shall be in effect beginning with the date of the final signature on the contract and continuing (if not otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms of this agreement) until final approval by the Town of the service performed.

4. Payment: a. The Town shall promptly pay the sum of SUM for the completed services or delivered goods described in Attachment A “Proposal Response” by the required date. The required payment date shall be either: (1) the date on which payment is due under the terms of the contract, or (2) if a date is not established by the contract, not more than forty-five (45) days after goods or services are received or not more than forty-five (45) days after an invoice is rendered, whichever is later. Separate payment dates may be specified for contracts under which goods or services are provided in a series of partial executions or deliveries to the extent that the contract provides for separate payment for partial execution or delivery. Within twenty (20) days after the receipt of
an invoice for goods or services, the Town shall notify the supplier of any defect or impropriety that would prevent payment by the required payment date. If the Town fails to make payment by the required payment date, the Town shall pay any finance charges assess by the supplier that shall not exceed one percent (1%) per month. Where payment is made by mail, the date of the postmark shall be deemed to be the date the payment is made.

b. Individual Contractors shall provide their Social Security numbers, and proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations shall provide the Town of Front Royal with a Federal Employer Identification number, prior to receiving any payment from the City.

c. Invoices for items ordered, delivered and accepted shall be submitted by the Contractor directly to this payment address:

Town of Front Royal
Accounts Payable
P.O. Box 1560
Front Royal, VA 22630

All invoices shall show the applicable Purchase Order number.

d. The Contractor shall monthly furnish an invoice to the Town for services rendered that month. All goods or services provided under this contract or Purchase Order, that are to be paid for with public funds, shall be billed by the Contractor at the contract price, regardless of which Town department is being billed.

e. Unreasonable Charges. Under certain emergency procurements and for mote time and material purchases, final job costs cannot be accurately determined at the time orders are placed. In such cases, Contractors should put on notice that final payment in full is contingent on a determination of reasonableness with respect to all invoiced charges. Charges which appear to be unreasonable will be researched and challenged, and that portion of the invoice held in abeyance until a settlement can be reached.

Upon determining that invoiced charges are not reasonable, The Town shall promptly notify the Contractor, in writing, as to those charges which it considers unreasonable and the basis for the determination. A Contractor may not institute legal action unless a settlement cannot be reached within thirty (30) days of notification. The provisions of this section do not relieve an agency of its prompt payment obligations with respect to those charges which are not in dispute. (Code of Virginia § 2.2-4363).

To Subcontractors:
a. A Contractor awarded a contract under this solicitation is hereby obligated:
(1) To pay the subcontractor(s) within seven (7) days of the Contractor’s receipt of payment from the Town for the proportionate share of the payment received for work performed by the subcontractor(s) under the contract; or (2) To notify the agency and the subcontractor(s), in writing, of the Contractor’s intention to withhold payment and the reason.

b. The Contractor is obligated to pay the subcontractor(s) interest at the rate of one percent (1%) per month (unless otherwise provided under the terms of the contract) on all amounts owed by the Contractor that remain unpaid seven (7) days following receipt of payment from the Town, except for amounts withheld as stated in (2) above. The date of mailing of any payment by U.S. Mail is deemed to be payment to the addressee. These provisions apply to each sub-tier contractor performing under the primary contract. A Contractor’s obligation to pay an interest charge to a subcontractor cannot be construed to be an obligation of the Town of Front Royal.

5. Reports: The Contractor shall complete, maintain, and submit to the Town all records and reports and lists of services rendered when such services are rendered.

6. Services Rendered: The Contractor shall perform all services to be rendered pursuant to this Contract at the location specified above. The Contractor agrees to maintain all facilities and equipment used by the Contractor under this Contract in clean, sanitary, and safe condition and free from defects of every kind.

7. Licenses and Permits: The Contractor agrees that it has procured all licenses, permits, or other like permission required by law to conduct or engage in the activity provided for in this Contract; that it will procure all additional licenses, permits, or like permission required by law during the term of this Contract; and that it will keep such licenses, permits, and permissions in full force and effect during the term of this Contract.

8. Independent Contractor: The Contractor understands and agrees that the relationship of the Contractor to the Town arising out of this Contract shall be that of independent contractor. It is understood that the Contractor, or its staff and employees, are not employees of the Town and are, therefore, not entitled to any benefits provided employees of the Town. The Contractor shall be responsible for reporting and accounting for all State, Federal, Social Security, and local taxes where applicable.

9. Non-Discrimination: During the performance of this agreement the Contractor agrees as follows:
a. The Contractor will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, sex, natural origin, age, disability, status as a service disabled veteran or any other basis prohibited by state law relating to discrimination in employment, except where there is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary for the normal operation of the Contractor. The Contractor agrees to post in conspicuous places, available to employees and applicants for employment, notices setting forth the provisions of this non-discrimination clause.

b. The Contractor, in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or on behalf of the Contractor, will state that the Contractor is an equal opportunity employer. The Town of Front Royal does not discriminate against faith-based organizations.

c. Notices, advertisements and solicitations placed in accordance with federal law, rule or regulation shall be deemed sufficient for the purpose of meeting the requirements of this section.

d. The Contractor will include the provisions of the foregoing paragraphs a, b and c in every subcontract or purchase order of over $10,000.00 so that the provisions will be binding upon each sub-contractor or vendor.

10. Compliance with Federal Immigration Law: The Contractor does not, and shall not during the performance of the Contract for goods and services in the Commonwealth, knowingly employ an unauthorized alien as defined in the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

11. Compliance with State Law: The Contractor shall comply with section 2.2-311.2 of the Code of Virginia pertaining to foreign and domestic businesses authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth.

12. Drug-Free Workplace: For the purpose of this section, “drug-free workplace” means a site for the performance of work done in connection with this contract awarded to the Contractor in accordance with this procurement transaction.

During the performance of this contract, the Contractor agrees to:
a. Provide a drug-free workplace for the Contractor’s employees b. Post in conspicuous places, available to employees and applicants for employment, a statement notifying employees that the unlawful manufacture, sale, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance or marijuana is prohibited in the Contractor’s workplace and specifying the actions that will be taken against employees for violations of such prohibition c. State in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or on behalf of the Contractor that the Contractor maintains a drug-free workplace d. Include the provisions of the foregoing paragraphs a, b and c in every subcontract or purchase order of over $10,000, so that the provisions will be binding upon each subcontractor or vendor.

13. Termination for Cause: This Contract may be terminated by the Town upon fifteen (15) days written notice to the Contractor to the address first named above in the event of substantial failure or default of the Contractor to perform in accordance with the terms hereof through no fault of the Town’s.

14. Termination for Convenience: The obligation to provide further services under this Contract may be terminated by the Town for its convenience and not for cause upon fifteen (15) days written notice. The Contractor shall be compensated for work performed through the date of termination and for termination expenses, including any expenses directly attributable to termination and for which the Contractor is not otherwise compensated. Termination expenses shall not, however, include loss profits on services not performed as a result of such termination for convenience.

15. Notice: Any notice which is required to be given, or which may be given under this Contract, shall be sent to those mailing addresses noted in the first paragraph of this Contract.

16. Non-Assignability: Independent contractor understands that this Contract is a contract with the professional services of the Contractor and that it is made by the Town in reliance on the Contractor’s personal skills and knowledge in the activity to be conducted and as represented by the Contractor. Accordingly, this Contract is non-assignable by the Contractor without the express written advance permission of the Town.

17. Insurance: The Contractor shall procure and maintain the general liability insurances shown below, with the Town names as Additional Insured, for protection from claims arising out of performance of services caused by negligent, reckless, or willful error, omission or act for which the Contractor is legally liable. The Contractor shall deliver to the Town, upon execution of this Agreement, certificates of such insurance. Insurance shall provide for coverage effective through the date of the end of the Project.

Comprehensive General Liability Insurance, naming the Town as Additional Insured
Automobile Liability, naming the Town as Additional Insured
Worker’s Compensation

18. Amount of Insurance Required:
Comprehensive General Liability Insurance – $1,000,000 Minimum per Incident
Automobile Liability Insurance – $1,000,000 bodily injury and $1,000,000 property damage
Worker’s Compensation – As required by the Commonwealth of Virginia

19. Indemnification: The Independent contractor shall indemnify, keep and hold harmless the Town of Front Royal and its members of Council, officers, directors, employees and volunteers against any and all third party claims of injuries, death, damage to property, theft, patent claims, suits, liabilities, judgements, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) which may otherwise accrue against the Town in consequence of the granting of a Contract which may otherwise result therefrom, to the extent it shall be determined that the claim was caused through
negligence or error, or omission of the Independent contractor or his or her employees, or that of the Subcontractor or his or her employees, if any; and the Independent contractor shall, to the extent of its obligation above, pay all reasonable charges of attorneys and all costs and other expenses arising therefrom or incurred in connection therewith; and if any judgement shall be rendered against the Town in any such action, the Service Provide shall, to the same extent, at its own expense, satisfy and discharge the same. The Independent contractor expressly understands and agrees that any performance bond or insurance protection required by this Contract, or otherwise provided by the Independent contractor shall in no way limit the responsibility to
indemnify, keep and save harmless and defend the Town as herein provided. The provisions of this section shall survive the completions, terminations or expiration of the Contract.

20. Entire Contract: This Contract constitutes the entire agreement between the parties pertaining to the subject matter of this Contract and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements and understandings of the parties in connection with the subject matter. No modification of this Contract shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by both parties.

21. Force Majeure: The Contractor shall not be held responsible for failure to perform the duties and responsibilities imposed by this Contract if such failure is due to fires, riots, rebellions, natural disasters, wars, or an act of God beyond control of the Contractor, and outside and beyond the scope of the Contractor’s then current, by industry standards, disaster plan that make performance impossible or illegal, unless otherwise specified in the Contract.

22. Antitrust: By entering into this Contract, the Contractor conveys, sells, assigns and transfers to the Town of Front Royal all rights, title, and interest in and to all causes of action the Contractor may now have or hereafter acquire under the antitrust laws of the United States or the Commonwealth of Virginia, relating to the goods or services purchased or acquired by the Town of Front Royal under this Contract.

23. Additional Terms and Conditions: The following attachments are made a part of this Contract and are incorporated herein:
(1) Attachment “A” – PROPOSAL RESPONSE
(2) Attachment “B” – PROPOSAL PRICING SCHEDULE

24. Standard of Care: The Contractor shall perform the services herein described expeditiously and diligently and in accordance with the standard of care and skill ordinarily exercised under similar conditions by reputable members of its profession or trade practicing in the same or similar locality within the Commonwealth of Virginia existing as of the date such services are provided and in accordance with all applicable laws, codes, and regulations in effect as of the date such services are provided.

25. Enforcement: This Contract shall in all aspects be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Any action maintained by either party for the enforcement or interpretation of the terms of this Contract shall be filed in the courts of Warren County, Virginia. The Contractor shall comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned parties hereto have made and executed this Contract as the
day and year first above written.

(SEAL) TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL, VIRGINIA
Attest: ________________________________ BY: _________________________________

Printed Name: _________________________ Type Name: ________________________
Title: _________________________________ Title: _______________________________
Date: _______________________________

(SEAL) INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR:
Attest: _________________________________ ____________________________________
Printed Name: __________________________ BY: ________________________________
Title: __________________________________ Printed Name: ______________________
Title: ______________________________
Date: ______________________________

APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________________________
Douglas W. Napier, Town Attorney
DATE: __________________________________

ATTACHMENT B REQUIRED SIGNATURE PAGES
PLEASE NOTE: STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION (SCC) REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS effective July 1, 2010 require that your proposal include the identification number issued by the State Corporation Commission as proof of registration or justification for non-registration, per the requirements in Sections 6.31 and 9.21. Please complete this Proof of Authority to Transact Business in Virginia form and submit it with your proposal. Failure to provide this information or providing inaccurate or purged information shall result in your proposal being rejected.

State Corporation Commission Form
Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) Registration Information Pursuant to VPPA §2.2-4311.2, the bidder must include the following information: o is a corporation or other business entity with the following SCC identification number:

-ORo is not a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, registered limited liability partnership, or business trust -ORo is an out-of-state business entity that does not regularly and continuously maintain as part of its ordinary and customary business any employees, agents, offices, facilities, or inventories in Virginia (not counting any employees or agents in Virginia who merely solicit orders that require acceptance outside Virginia before they become contracts, and not counting any incidental presence of the bidder in Virginia that is needed in order to assemble, maintain, and repair goods in accordance with the contracts by which such goods were sold and shipped into Virginia from bidder’s out-of-state location)

-ORo is an out-of-state business entity that is including with this proposal an opinion of legal counsel which accurately and completely discloses the undersigned bidder’s current contacts with Virginia and describes why those contacts do not constitute the transaction of business in Virginia within the meaning of § 13.1-757 or other similar provisions in Titles 13.1 or 50 of the Code of Virginia.

Attach opinion of legal counsel to this form.
o NOTE: Check this circle if you have not completed any of the foregoing options but currently have pending before the SCC and application for authority to transact business in the Commonwealth of Virginia and wish to be considered for a waiver to allow you to submit the SCC identification number after the due date for proposals. (The Town of Front Royal reserves the right to determine in its sole discretion whether to allow such waiver).

I certify the accuracy of this information.
Signed: Title: Date:

REQUIRED SIGNATURE PAGES NON-COLLUSION AFFIDAVIT
The undersigned bidder or agent, being duly sworn on oath, says that he/she has not, nor has any other member, representative, or agent of the firm, company, corporation or partnership
represented by him, entered in to any combination, collusion or agreement with any person relative to the price to be bid by anyone at such letting nor to prevent any person from bidding
nor to include anyone to refrain from bidding, and that this bid is made without reference to any other bid and without any agreement, understanding or combination with any other person in
reference to such bidding. He/She further says that no person or persons, firms, or corporation has, have or will receive directly or indirectly, any rebate, fee gift, commission or thing of value
on account of such sale.

OATH AND AFFIRMATION
I HEREBY AFFIRM UNDER THE PENALITIES FOR PERJURY THAT THE FACTS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE FOREGOING BID ARE TRUE AND CORRECT.
Dated this day of , 2019
(Name of Organization)
(Title of Person Signing)
(Signature)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATE OF COUNTY OF
Before me, a Notary Public, personally appeared the above named and swore that the statements contained in the foregoing document are true and correct.
Subscribed and sworn to me this day of , 2019
Notary Public Signature
My Commission Expires: (SEAL)

REQUIRED SIGNATURE PAGES
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The undersigned certifies and warrants that to the best of its knowledge and belief and except as otherwise disclosed, it does not have any organizational conflict of interest, which is defined as a situation in which the nature or work under the contract and the offeror’s organizational, financial, contractual or other interest are such that award of the contract may result in the offeror receiving an unfair competitive advantage, or the offeror’s objectivity in performing the contract work may be impaired. The offeror agrees that if after being awarded it discovers an organizational conflict of interest with respect to the being awarded, it shall make an immediate and full disclosure in writing to the Town of Front Royal which shall include a description of the action which the offeror has taken or intends to take to eliminate or neutralize the conflict.

INDICATE THE NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE PERSON WHO CAN RESPOND AUTHORITATIVELY TO ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PROPOSAL (I.E. PROJECT MANAGER).

Dated this day of , 2019
(Name of Organization)
(Title of Person Signing)
(Signature)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATE OF COUNTY OF
Before me, a Notary Public, personally appeared the above named and swore that the statements contained in the foregoing document are true and correct.
Subscribed and sworn to me this day of , 2019
Notary Public Signature
My Commission Expires: (SEAL)

REQUIRED SIGNATURE PAGES
In compliance with this Request for Proposals and to all the conditions imposed herein, the undersigned offers and agrees to furnish the services in accordance with the proposal response.

LEGAL NAME & ADDRESS OF FIRM:
By:
Company’s Legal Name Authorized Representative – Signature in Ink
Printed Name:
Title:
Date:
Phone:
Email:
Fax:

In compliance with this RFP, and subject to all the conditions thereof, the signatory offers, if this bid is accepted within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of the opening, to furnish any or all of the items and/or services upon which prices are quoted, at the price set opposite each item, to be delivered at the time and place specified herein. The above signature certifies the bidder has read, understands, and agrees to all terms, conditions, and requirements of this bid, and is authorized to contract on behalf of firm named above.

Local Government

Joint Public Schools Budget hearing Sees Critique of Schools Admin’s Detail and Past Performance Accountability

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The Warren County Board of Supervisors and School Board joint budget work session of April 30th turned into a somewhat accusatory analysis of an absence of detail, a developing lack of trust, and perceived absence of accountability aimed at public schools administrators and financial staff. The most lengthy and critical comments came from North River District Supervisor Richard Jamieson, who noted that while homeschooling his own children, had himself attended public schools as a youth. He asserted that his home schooling preference for his children did not impact his current negative analysis of Warren County Public Schools.

However, following North River School Board member Melanie Salins earlier comments on being unable to have questions she has been asking about budget allocations for four vacant positions responded to in a timely manner by school system staff, Jamieson later launched a 24-minute critique of what he believes are misplaced budgetary priorities contributing to ongoing operational failures educationally and administratively at Warren County Public Schools.

County supervisors at the far side work session table and the school board on near side try to zero in on a workable FY-2025 Public Schools Budget. At this point, a $2.4 million increase in local funding is being sought.

But more on that later. First, we’ll summarize portions of what led up to Jamieson’s negative appraisal of the county’s public school system and its evolving Fiscal Year-2025 budget proposal. It might be noted there was one elected official absence from the full boards’ joint meeting. That was Shenandoah District School Board member Tom McFadden Jr.

Schools Finance Officer Rob Ballentine opened the work session with a presentation of the evolving public schools Fiscal Year-2025 budget, explaining that the State revenue portion of the equation remains in flux, leaving a certain amount of guess work on necessary local funding involved until State officials finalize their FY-2025 budget numbers and that key portion of the anticipated revenue stream to the county’s public school system.

With some updated numbers the projected State contribution was cited at $43,514,552 of what is currently projected as a $78,790,969 total WC Public Schools FY-2025 budget-supporting revenue stream. That number includes a requested County contribution of $31,119,702, an increase of $2,469,702 over the last Fiscal Year County share of the Public Schools budget. Ballentine observed that the $2,469,702 local revenue increase was less than cited at the previous joint budget work session. Other anticipated revenue streams include Federal revenue of $3.55 million, and Miscellaneous revenue of $605,708.

Ballentine noted that the changes in submitted State revenue added about $43,000 to what had been projected previously. “The problem with that is the State sill hasn’t adopted a budget,” Ballentine said, noting a scheduled budget Special Session of the State General Assembly targeted for May 13, with a subsequent final vote on the State budget hopefully by May 15.

WC Public Schools Finance Director Rob Ballentine, left, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Chris Ballenger prepare for their presentation of the updated FY-2025 school budget proposal, with 42 pages of small-print categories and numbers at their disposal. But where’s the detail, some still asked of certain categories.

“Once they do finalize their budget we’ll get the exact numbers that will go in that column for the State. So, those numbers probably will change, hopefully not much. And if they change, hopefully they’ll get larger — but that remains to be seen,” Ballentine observed.

The question and answer that followed began innocently enough as, first School Board member Melanie Salins asked what had propelled the reduction in the local revenue request, removal of some items or the increase in the projected State contribution. “There were things that we adjusted in the budget,” Ballentine responded, citing a $100,000 reduction from elimination of a testing program that was being deferred to FY-2026, as well as the positive impact of the projected increase in State revenue.

“Jay” Butler sought information on what was driving school budgetary changes upward, including how staffing needs were being met to fill unfilled positions. During discussion of that latter item, School Superintendent Dr. Chris Ballenger observed that it was not generally advisable to wait until the next budgetary year cycle to fill unanticipated staff vacancies because qualified available applicants would be quickly grabbed up by other school systems also looking to fill vacant positions. In response to a question, Dr. Ballenger said that of 33 current staff vacancies, 16 are teaching positions.

As John Stanmeyer studies the numbers, ‘Jay’ Butler queries Schools Admin staff on driving factors leading to a requested $2.49-million increase in local funding to $31.11 million, of a total projected budget of $78.79 million with anticipated State and Federal funding factored in.

Later, Ballenger observed that what students need educationally, as well as socially and economically, were the primary consideration in establishing annual public schools budgetary priorities. The staffing priorities discussion led County Board and joint work session Chairman Cheryl Cullers to express her hope that an Agricultural Program teaching position would be included in and approved as part of the schools FY-2025 budgetary request.

Money well spent?

Prefacing comments beginning at the 2:02:15 mark of the linked County video, Supervisor Jamieson said he felt line-item schools budget questions had been adequately covered, leading him toward another perspective he described as coming “from 40,000 feet or so”. His overview from that altitude was not complimentary:

“I’ve already made a few comments about a kind of crisis of confidence in terms of transparency and what’s visible. My primary concern as a supervisor charged with the responsibility for using taxpayer money is whether accountability is sufficient for the money being spent by the school system. And asking the question is more money being spent correlated to better educational outcomes,” Jamieson began.


Happy with the line item discussion, Supervisor Richard Jamieson decided to take an ‘overview’ of the Public Schools Budget from ‘40,000 feet’. — He didn’t like what he saw from up there. And it’s not because he’s a home schooler, he assured us.

And while admitting there were differing opinions on answers to those questions, Jamieson said he believed: “That’s not the preponderance of the evidence. That it depends on how the additional money is spent.” Jamieson asserted that he agreed that an excellent public educational system is a benefit to an entire community. However, he continued to note that recent annual statistics indicated that attendance at Warren County Public Schools had peaked, and was staying level, if not decreasing in some areas.

He did cite educational options, including home schooling and private schooling, in this community to public schools. However, he acknowledged that public schools educated the “vast majority” of students in the community. And he did not address whether shifting population and countywide age variables might impact those public school population trends. He did cite constituents he was aware of he said had withdrawn their children from the county’s public schools due to discipline or violence issues within some schools.

To make his point that public school appropriations were not being well spent, Jamieson pointed to four schools in the system that were ranked below federal standards of performance. “The elephant in the room that has been brought up, is that we do have four out of 10 schools that are not meeting federal standards. That’s 40%,” Jamieson pointed out, adding that 40% of the five-person School Board had voted against the submitted public schools budget proposal. As we understand it, that 40% was Salins and the absent Tom McFadden Jr., both of whom appear to have direct or indirect ties to the home or private schooling community here.

Jamieson said that instituting across-the-board raises in a system with a 40% failing standard of its schools, as opposed to identifying and replacing staff that could be tied to those failing standards, was a failed status quo he could not support. As to federal involvement in public education, Chairman Cullers, who was a school nurse in the public school system for years, at another point in the discussion suggested the school system should drop the federal and state implemented SOLs (Standards Of Learning) as a dysfunctional educational measurement tool. However, Jamieson noted that would amount to crossing the people with their hands on the purse strings of the educational system. — Well, at least two-thirds of those purse strings, the third being the local County appropriation he was asserting should be cut.

Flanked by Vice-Chair ‘Jay’ Butler and Richard Jamieson, work session and supervisors board Chair Cheryl Cullers expressed support for some schools staffing requests, as well as taking a shot at SOLs as a dysfunctional educational measurement tool, created as we recall by bureaucrats, not educators.

How may Jamieson’s negative analysis overview impact the supervisor majority’s perspective on the submitted, if not yet finalized FY-2025 Warren County Public Schools budget currently seeking $31,119,702 in local County funding, as noted above, an increase of $2,469,702 from the current Fiscal Year-2024?

Stay tuned as this crucial municipal governmental funding decision approaches a conclusion that may reverberate throughout this community for more than just the Fiscal Year to come.

 

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Local Government

Town Council and Planning Commission Meet for Much-Needed Discussion at Special Joint Work Session

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On Monday, April 29, at 7 p.m. in the Front Royal Town Hall on 102 East Main Street, the Front Royal Town Council and the Planning Commission met to discuss vape shops, Planned Neighborhood Development District (PND) zoning, and short-term rentals. Planning Director and Zoning Administrator Lauren Kopishke supported the mayor in guiding the discussion.

A special joint work session is held between the Town Council and the Planning Commission on the evening of Monday, April 29. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

While vape shops and short-term rentals drew similar sentiments from everyone in the room, the more contentious item and perhaps the driving force behind the gathering was PND zoning. This type of zoning allows for mixed-use development in higher densities, on parcels rezoned to PND, and it is in many ways an improvement on by-right development as it potentially offers affordable housing for those in Front Royal who are struggling to cope with inflation and the cost of living in general. The challenge to PND zoning, which Planning Commissioner Chair Connie Marshner sees clearly, is the scarcity of lots large enough within Town limits to meet the acreage requirement for a planned neighborhood development district, as it is currently regulated by the Town Ordinance. This may explain why, in an application from a developer for PND rezoning that involved a proposed amendment to the ordinance reducing the acreage threshold for PND from twenty-five acres to two, the planning commission passed the application to the council, recommending a reduction to five acres in the case that the council felt uncomfortable with two. In the words of Councilwoman Amber Morris, the two-acre prospect was “offensive.” Indeed, the council denied any amendment to the ordinance and the application.

Planning Director and Zoning Administrator Lauren Kopishke helps Mayor Lori Cockrell guide the Town Council and the Planning Commission through a discussion of vape shops, PND zoning, and short-term rentals.

To do justice to Morris’s position, it is offensive because it would open a “floodgate” to untrammeled development that may neither respect the Town’s rustic charm nor be sensitive to the needs of its infrastructure and the way of life that its natives have built here. At the same time, Kopishke has emphasized that there are so many other stipulations in the rezoning to PND that the floodgate would never be opened. Having provided the council and the commission with extensive reading in their agenda packet that highlighted how other localities are handling this type of development, localities from which she is actively gathering information in staff’s ongoing PND enterprise, Kopishke urged those present to discuss what they like about the current ordinance and what they do not like. After a somewhat tangential conversation, most of the council members said they would like to leave the ordinance the way it is, with a threshold of twenty-five acres for PND mixed residential and fifty for PND commercial.

Morris said it is not the government’s job to provide affordable housing. Also, there is nothing wrong, in her opinion, with preservation. Just because a parcel is undeveloped does not mean it needs to be developed. The evening ended with the sense that things were as much as before. There is only one PND zone in Front Royal, and it is undeveloped. The Comprehensive Plan does indeed call for higher density development, but what that looks like seems to be a matter of degrees in which some are prepared to be more extreme than others. Consensus between these two bodies would be a very rare diamond.

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Local Government

County Budget Work Session Addresses Staff Health Care Costs, Charging Town for Solid Waste Dumping, and Old Oak Ln. Projects

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Following a 4 p.m. tour of the new Senior Center renovations slated to be completed by June (see related story) and a late-added 5:30 p.m. Closed Session (Item A), the Warren County Board of Supervisors convened to yet another Fiscal Year-2024/25 budget work session. This one, convened about five minutes after the scheduled 6 p.m. start due to the length of the closed session, included one outside agency, the Virginia Department Of Transportation (VDOT) on the Six-Year Plan for road improvements in the county, and five county departmental presentations.

Those budget-related reports in the order presented were:

  1. Presentation – Virginia Department of Transportation Secondary 6-Year Plan
  2. Discussion – Public Work Transfer Station Rates – Mike Berry, Public Works Director
  3. Presentation – Old Oak Lane, Phase IV (4) and V (5) Updates – Mike Berry, Public Works Director and Sanitary District Manager Michael Coffelt
  4. Discussion – 2024-2025 United Healthcare Insurance Renewal – Jane Meadows, Deputy County Administrator, Kayla Darr, Human Resources Manager
  5. Discussion – Orientation for the Department of Social Services – Jon Martz, Director of Social Services
  6. Requested Proclamation: April is Child Abuse Prevention Month – Department of Social Services

Since it was a work session, no actions were taken on the presentations or staff recommendations. The board took what they heard under advisement as they move toward a final budget proposal in the months leading to the start of Fiscal Year-2025 on July 1, 2024. Since no action can be taken at a work session, the Social Services Department requested proclamation on recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month would be made at the board’s first meeting of May, Tuesday, the 7th of May.

County Director of Social Services Jon Martz and staffers April White and Christine Lawson outlined their programs and service number increases into the new fiscal year and requested board acknowledgment of ‘April is Child Abuse Prevention Month’.

Among highlights of those presentations and board discussion of them was a staff recommendation from Public Works Director Mike Berry to begin charging the Town of Front Royal for its use of the County’s Solid Waste Transfer Station to dump residential trash. Coupled with a $10 hike in the County’s current tipping fee of $69 to $79 at the Transfer Station, charging the Town “what other commercial users” are charged was projected to increase County revenue by $474,000 to help cover rising costs.

Another highlight came during Deputy County Administrator Jane Meadows update on renewal of the United Health Care Insurance Plan for County employees. In describing the existing situation, employee contributions to their health care coverage balanced against salaries, as well as health and age profiles of county employees, it was observed that may of the County’s employees “feel undervalued” by their employer.

Board Chairman Cheryl Cullers expressed some distress at that description of what is apparently a significant portion of the County’s staff that may be considering a move to a higher-paying or larger employer share of health care costs municipality. And while it may not be a totally new phenomena in the local governmental employer/employee relationship, it is one the board chair believes needs to be dealt with proactively in coming years. How that might be achieved without increasing County revenue through higher service rates, as suggested by the public works director regarding the Town’s use of the County’s Solid Waste Transfer Station, or general tax hikes to provide additional across the board general services revenue will be a dilemma the board must face in coming fiscal years.

County Director of Social Services Jon Martz and staffers April White and Christine Lawson outlined their programs and service number increases into the new fiscal year, as well as requested board acknowledgment of ‘April is Child Abuse Prevention Month’.

Another discussion highlight came in the updates on Old Oak Lane Phases 4 and 5 in the Shenandoah Farms Sanitary District. Staff reported ongoing issues with “production defects” of box culvert sections delivered to the County by the contracted vendor causing ongoing delays as the Phase 4 project creeps toward completion. But that completion of the Old Oak Phase 4 project cited at an approved budget of $1.6 million, with expenditures to date of $796,792, with a remaining budget of $803,208, was recommended for completion. The staff summary also noted that the County “has not paid for the Eastern Vault $249,000 invoice for station 53+00 due to the deficiencies noted.” It was further noted that Public Works has “expended $173,000 in corrective action” with more corrective repairs to come.

As for Old Oak Phase 5 more at a planning stage, due to “Design Constraints” and related costs, staff recommended that the “County Administrator should send a letter to VDOT cancelling the Old Oak Phase V (5).” However, it was added that the County Public Works Department “complete the project internally using current maintenance contracts and approved SFSD (Shenandoah Farms Sanitary District) FY24 road improvement funding.” It was added that: “County General funding no longer necessary for internal SFSD project” which might draw the attention of some Farms Sanitary District residents regarding the use of their Sanitary District tax revenue.

The Closed Session involved legal consultation on wide range of matters involving liabilities, debt, potential bank actions, and recovery of assets related to the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority (FR-WC EDA or now WC EDA) financial scandal. The motion made into the Closed Meeting read:

“I  move the Board enter into a closed meeting under the provisions of Sections 2.2-3711(A)(7) and (A)(8) for consultation with legal counsel pertaining to actual or probable litigation and the provision of legal advice regarding the Industrial Development Authority of the Town of Front Royal and the County of Warren, Virginia (the “EDA”), the Town of Front Royal, the EDA vs. Jennifer McDonald, et al., the Town of Front Royal vs. the EDA, et al., the EDA vs. the Town of Front Royal, other potential claims and litigation relating to other possible liabilities of the EDA, the recovery of EDA funds and assets, the outstanding indebtedness of the EDA and potential bank actions related to the same.”

The supervisors came out of the closed session at about 6:05 p.m. to find a captive audience of mostly county staff in the rear of the meeting room, along with VDOT reps Ed Carter and Matt Smith, right to left, in the second row of public seating.

And after the above-cited agenda’s completion, the work session adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

Due to what was described as a vendor “glitch” there is some delay on the work session video being posted. County IT staff hopes the video will be posted by the end of the week. When it is available, it will be linked to this story.

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Local Government

Supervisors View New Senior Center Site at Health & Human Services Complex Prior to Budget Work Session

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At 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, the Warren County Board of Supervisors began its three-pronged April 23rd schedule with a tour of the nearly completed two-year Health & Human Services facility renovations that will see the County-overseen Senior Center relocated from its Chimney Field-area site. According to Deputy County Administrator Jane Meadows, relocation will see an approximate doubling of the size of the senior assistance and activities facility. Meadows later elaborated to us that the square footage of the new Senior Center is 5,922 s.f., with shared space with the Parks & Recreation Department adding an additional 2,780 s.f. expanding total usable space to 8,702 s.f. For comparison, the existing Senior Center on Commonwealth Avenue near Chimney Field, the building is 3,964 s.f. The two-year project cost was cited at $867,000.

Deputy County Administrator Jane Meadows, right, gives supervisors and other involved personnel an overview of the status of the almost-ready Senior Center in a renovated portion of the County’s Health & Human Services complex off of 15th Street in Front Royal. Below are two perspectives on what appears to be a main dining area with space for other activities as needed. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

Costs and returns on investments are high on the county supervisors’ minds right now as they zero in on a Fiscal year 2024/25 final budget that will see the county’s first tax hike in the past five years to fund crucial departmental and outside agency services. Board members new and old seemed impressed with the amount of renovated space and its condition as presented to them by Meadows, along with Senior Services personnel, a number from Seniors First, including Executive Director Jimmy Roberts, Director of Development Greg Stockton, Director of Senior Center Operations Marsha LeBrecht, and Senior Center staffer Misty Alger. Also joining the tour were County Director of Social Services Jon Martz and Assistant Director Christie Lawson.

The target date for opening the Senior Center at its Health & Human Services complex location at the old middle school site off 15th Street is sometime in June, though involved officials declined to get more specific on a precise date at this point as final renovations continue.

The Senior Center facility tour makes its way through kitchen areas with what appears to be a renovation in progress on the exhaust system hanging from the ceiling. In the third shot below, Warren Senior Center staffer Misty Alger displays a walk-in freezer for food storage in a kitchen area. Cleanliness in food preparation areas was cited and will be encouraged by multiple sink locations.

It was noted that the change of locations would also be beneficial in giving attending seniors nearby access to a number of Health & Human Services in the 15th Street complex in addition to the shared Parks & Recreation space. That access includes the County Health and Social Services Departments for assistance seniors qualify for and utilize in maintaining a more beneficial standard of living.

The group gathers at the exit from the large dining area to an outside patio area.

Meadows shows tour auxiliary rooms with work desks and a bathroom area with a walk-in shower.

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Local Government

Airing of Differences in Town Council Regular Meeting Leads to Unanimous Vote to Extend Out-of-Town Service to Catholic Diocese

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Every meeting of the Town Council has a scarlet thread weaving through a thicket of information. On Monday, April 22, at a regular meeting, starting at 7 p.m. in the Warren County Government Center on 220 North Commerce Avenue, the items threading the labyrinth were related to an out-of-town utility connection contract with the Catholic Diocese of Arlington for 0 Criser Road.

Town Council meets for regular meeting on the evening of April 22 at the Warren County Government Center.

Sensing what is coming next is an imprecise art in government and the status of the Diocese’s application, suffering much discussion throughout multiple work sessions of the council, lingered in a state of irresolution as it was unclear whether the church body would ultimately receive water and septic service from the town at their out-of-town location on West Criser Road, where they plan to develop a sanctuary as well as an auxiliary building to serve as a gymnasium. Still, on Monday night, to use Councilman Bruce Rappaport’s language, the issue reached the end of its road. Even if the council does not work out a boundary-line adjustment of Town corporate limits to include the parcel at 0 West Criser Road, even if the council cannot, therefore, require the applicant to build a sidewalk in accordance with the rules that would govern the development of a parcel within Town limits; and even if members of the council continue to disagree amongst themselves about the coulda, woulda, shoulda pertaining to the Diocese’ offer to offset the cost of a sidewalk, the Town can still extend service to the church body. And they did in a unanimous vote.

Jaden Matthiae, son of Michelle Matthiae and planning commissioner Brian Matthiae, receives a gift certificate from Mayor Lori Cockrell after he led the gathering in the pledge of allegiance.

Having placed 0 Criser Road on a list of areas outside of town that may receive service earlier in the evening in a unanimous vote, the council proceeded later, before the vote on approving the application, to submit for the record their varying views on whether a sidewalk could have been a part of the deal. A sidewalk on West Criser Road is something that all the members of the Town Council, as well as the town manager, desire passionately, as safety conditions are currently less than ideal for school children walking on that road. A parcel on that road might be developed in a way that would possibly increase pedestrian traffic, but this only serves to cement that desire; however, there are different opinions about methodology.

Before the meeting, there was an equipment display in the Government Center’s parking lot so the public could see their tax dollars at work. Above: Town Manager Joe Waltz tries out the Town’s brand-new rubber tire loader, valued at 212K, which will serve with snow removal and assist in water and septic maintenance. Below: Manager of Vehicle/Equipment Maintenance Donald McPaters stands beside a beauty, a brand-new asphalt roller valued at 74K.

The one hundred and twenty-some thousand dollars that the Diocese offered to the Town to offset the cost of a sidewalk could have, in Councilman Glenn Wood’s view, solved the problem. However, the Diocese did not conduct a study of what the sidewalk would ultimately cost, and according to the information available to Town staff, the ultimate cost, including all the engineering concerns, would be upwards of two million dollars. In her statement at the meeting, Councilwoman Amber Morris strongly underlined those engineering concerns, specifically the utilities that would have to be moved to make that sidewalk a reality. Town Manager Joe Waltz emphasized the inadequacy of one hundred twenty-some thousand dollars. It is his view that the real priority on West Criser Road is installing a sidewalk between Skyline Vista Drive and Route 340, where there is not even a bike lane to offset the safety concern.

Under public comments, Tom Sayre stands up to address the council on what he perceives to be a pressing need for fiscal transparency, referencing a case from 2022 in which funds were appropriated under circumstances that Town Attorney George Sonnett explained were confidential after Councilwoman Amber Morris interrupted Sayre’s comment to call a point of order. The subject was what she called “alleged conduct,” and in her view, it would be inappropriate for the council to engage in such a comment in the context of a regular meeting. Sonnett encouraged the council not to engage the comment. They did not.

The word on the street is that the gymnasium will precede the sanctuary at 0 Criser Road. The intersection of Luray Avenue and West Main Street is a place of force on Sunday mornings, with much vehicular as well as pedestrian traffic, where St. John the Baptist Church is located across from Maddox Funeral Home. A secondary chapel could relieve that traffic somewhat and the gymnasium could be a resource for the Catholic homeschool community. It certainly sounds like a good thing for everybody.

Click here to watch the Front Royal Town Council Meeting of April 22, 2024.

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Local Government

Town Council and Board of Supervisors Enjoy a Brief Liaison Committee Meeting

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Having come out of a special meeting where they voted approval for a giveaway of trees purchased by the Town, the Front Royal Town Council joined the Warren County Board of Supervisors for a liaison committee meeting hosted by the county at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 18 in the Warren County Government Center on 220 North Commerce Avenue. Mayor Lori Cockrell and Councilman Glenn Wood represented the council, while Chairwoman Cheryl Cullers and Supervisor Jerome Butler represented the board.

Town Council meets before the Town-County liaison meeting to hold a special meeting concerning permission to be granted to the Advisory Committee for Environmental Sustainability (ACES) to give away trees valued at $6218.75 with a $1000 delivery fee on Sunday, April 21, for an Earth Day event. This $7218.75 value, paid by the Town of Front Royal for trees that the Horticulture Department purchased, covers ACES’ free plant giveaway. The council unanimously approved the giveaway. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.

The items on the agenda were, respectively, the issue of processing house violations and tenant and landlord enforcement, deferred to July; McKay’s Springs; the transportation and infrastructure committee; an update on school zone cameras; the water supply plan; and a boundary line adjustment for Town corporate limits on East/West Criser Road. The meeting was characterized by agreement and goodwill as the Town and County discussed these items that concerned them. At the same time, Town Manager Joe Waltz and County Administrator Edwin Daley provided them with the information they needed to transact the meeting.

Front Royal Town Council and Warren County Board of Supervisors meet for Thursday night liaison committee meeting at the Warren County Government Center.

Mayor Cockrell pushed for clarification on who exactly owns McKay Springs. Daley explained that three years ago, the Economic Development Authority (EDA) sold their portion to the County, thus reducing the stakeholders to two parties, the Town and the County, both of whom currently own portions and a portion they own together. Under the leadership of Daley and Waltz, the Town and the County are now exploring whether they might develop McKay Springs as a joint venture. The transportation and infrastructure committee would facilitate this discussion, and it would be merely a discussion based on information gathering. Cullers then guided the meeting towards the transportation and infrastructure committee itself. At that point, she and Cockrell mentioned reports from VDOT that the Town and County received separately.

Captain Zachary King of the Front Royal Police Department gives an update on school zone cameras to the liaison committee.

After they received an update about cameras in school zones from Captain Zachary King of the Front Royal Police Department and after they heard from Waltz about the annual determination of the Town’s excess volume in water and septic capacity, that is, capacity available for future development, the town manager explained the need for a boundary line adjustment on East/West Criser Road, where in a recent out-of-town service request it came to the Town’s attention that the boundary line does not reflect every segment of the road owned by the Town which, currently, owns segments that are outside of corporate limits, even though the Town owns all the land that East/West Criser Road is built on. The adjustment would bring all segments of the road into corporate limits as well as any segment marginal to the road that the Town already owns. There did not seem to be any resistance from the board to rectifying this oversight.

At 6:50 p.m., all agenda items having been addressed, the meeting was resolved with the determination to hold another liaison committee meeting in July.

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Thank You to our Local Business Participants:

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Aders Insurance Agency, Inc (State Farm)

Aire Serv Heating and Air Conditioning

Apple Dumpling Learning Center

Apple House

Auto Care Clinic

Avery-Hess Realty, Marilyn King

Beaver Tree Services

Blake and Co. Hair Spa

Blue Mountain Creative Consulting

Blue Ridge Arts Council

Blue Ridge Education

BNI Shenandoah Valley

C&C's Ice Cream Shop

Card My Yard

CBM Mortgage, Michelle Napier

Christine Binnix - McEnearney Associates

Code Jamboree LLC

Code Ninjas Front Royal

Cool Techs Heating and Air

Down Home Comfort Bakery

Downtown Market

Dusty's Country Store

Edward Jones-Bret Hrbek

Explore Art & Clay

Family Preservation Services

First Baptist Church

Front Royal Independent Business Alliance

Front Royal/Warren County C-CAP

First Baptist Church

Front Royal Treatment Center

Front Royal Women's Resource Center

Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce

Fussell Florist

G&M Auto Sales Inc

Garcia & Gavino Family Bakery

Gourmet Delights Gifts & Framing

Green to Ground Electrical

Groups Recover Together

Habitat for Humanity

Groups Recover Together

House of Hope

I Want Candy

I'm Just Me Movement

Jean’s Jewelers

Jen Avery, REALTOR & Jenspiration, LLC

Key Move Properties, LLC

KW Solutions

Legal Services Plans of Northern Shenendoah

Main Street Travel

Makeover Marketing Systems

Marlow Automotive Group

Mary Carnahan Graphic Design

Merchants on Main Street

Mountain Trails

Mountain View Music

National Media Services

Natural Results Chiropractic Clinic

No Doubt Accounting

Northwestern Community Services Board

Ole Timers Antiques

Penny Lane Hair Co.

Philip Vaught Real Estate Management

Phoenix Project

Reaching Out Now

Rotary Club of Warren County

Royal Blends Nutrition

Royal Cinemas

Royal Examiner

Royal Family Bowling Center

Royal Oak Bookshop

Royal Oak Computers

Royal Oak Bookshop

Royal Spice

Ruby Yoga

Salvation Army

Samuels Public Library

SaVida Health

Skyline Insurance

Shenandoah Shores Management Group

St. Luke Community Clinic

Strites Doughnuts

Studio Verde

The Arc of Warren County

The Institute for Association & Nonprofit Research

The Studio-A Place for Learning

The Valley Today - The River 95.3

The Vine and Leaf

Valley Chorale

Vetbuilder.com

Warren Charge (Bennett's Chapel, Limeton, Asbury)

Warren Coalition

Warren County Democratic Committee

Warren County Department of Social Services

Warren County DSS Job Development

Warrior Psychotherapy Services, PLLC

WCPS Work-Based Learning

What Matters & Beth Medved Waller, Inc Real Estate

White Picket Fence

Woodward House on Manor Grade

King Cartoons

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6:30 pm Front Royal Wednesday Night Bingo @ Front Royal Volunteer Fire Deptartment
Front Royal Wednesday Night Bingo @ Front Royal Volunteer Fire Deptartment
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