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Board wants more funding for strike team
Last weekend, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors reached a consensus that the county's code enforcement “strike team” should receive additional funding, but left the final dollar figure in question.Faced with a $120 million shortfall in the fiscal 2009 budget, County Executive Anthony Griffin did not include any additional funding for the strike team, which targets illegal boardinghouses, in his draft budget.
In less than a year, the team has issued 4,139 notices of violation, averaging 19 violations per property for 218 closed cases.
A majority of supervisors are in agreement that funding the strike team is not only politically important, but also that the problem of overcrowding in area homes is spreading.
Outlining short- and long-term goals, deputy county executive and strike team leader Rob Stalzer said that an additional $250,000 was available in the budget to fund, at a minimum, two new positions, bringing the staff to 16 people and allowing the group to work on a blight abatement project.
For another $1 million, the county could effectively add a third strike team. The money could fund salaries, equipment, vehicles and office space for eight employees who would focus their attentions on limited apartment and motel inspections.
Lastly, Stalzer outlined the long-term goal, a consolidated department of code enforcement, including several existing code enforcement initiatives, for which the team would become responsible.
At this time, code enforcement is divvied up among Fire and Rescue, the Health Department, the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services and Planning and Zoning.
Such a move would transfer 44 current and 10 new positions to strike team control and, adding the other initiatives together, would total $5.75 million.
Supervisor Catherine Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill) cautioned against that option.
“I don't think [the county is] doing anything other than treating symptoms,” and that the function of the strike team, “is just moving people around. People will pack up and move somewhere else.”
Stalzer responded that his team is community-oriented, with social workers assisting the displaced residents of illegal boarding houses.
“I'm not sure that the board is ready for one consolidated agency,” said Braddock District Supervisor Sharon Bulova (D), chair of the supervisors' budget committee. “What I'm hearing is that the board is willing to add a third strike team.”
Griffin also recommended the addition of a third team, saying, “I think we need to work this gradually and not work too fast.”
“The strike team is one of the most successful things we have done as a board,” said board chairman Gerry Connolly (D-At Large), who advocated at least adding a third team.
Having recently spent a day with the strike team observing its operations, Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay (D) said, “We are years and years behind of where we need to be.”
The central Springfield area of McKay's district is littered with alleged boarding houses. He advocates a less dramatic move than complete consolidation into one department, but supports the addition of more than a single team.
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