As a result of your interest in our community, I encourage you to continue your participation in the management of the Town of Herndon.

This website has been created to pass along information about things going on in the Town and issues before the Town Council. Take a look at the website - participate in the straw polls - and pass along your opinions.

The Town has a very deliberate process for property development applications, the budget, the Capital Improvement Process, Comprehensive Plan Amendments, etc. The approval/disapproval of these items occur at a public hearing meeting, where concerned citizens have an opportunity to voice their opinions and make a recommendation to the Town Council. Historically, attendance at the public hearings is very light. I'm sure this occurs for a variety of reasons - people have jobs during the day, the meetings sometime go very late, some people don't like to speak in public, and I'm sure some people have doubts about the effect of their public comments. I can assure you that every comment is appreciated by Council.

Periodically, as issues come to the Planning Commission and the Town Council, I would like to e-mail you the general background of the issue and solicit your opinion and recommendations. I will place all of the detailed background information on the website and I will include your recommendations in the Council's deliberation process with as much anonymity as you desire.

BACKGROUND
The Cyber Advisory Committee and the website were created for the very simple purpose of encouraging more people to get involved in the governing of the Town of Herndon.  To accomplish this goal, citizens must have convenient access to information about issues and access to their elected representatives.

These goals are being accomplished.

We have a representative for of government in the Commonwealth.  I believe the only way to properly execute the responsibility of an elected official is to find a way to acquire recommendations and assure that those opinions become part of the decision making process.  I believe that it should be a goal of every elected officials to actively seek opinions from the citizens and the fairly represent those recommendations. 

This goal is being accomplished.

Today, Herndon is experiencing an interesting combination of events. Property assessments are increasing. Downward adjustments in tax rates are being considered. Demand for services and investment in community facilities is stronger than ever.  The Town's tax levels and spending priorities must be addresses and some very hard decisions must be made. The resolution of these issues and the setting of community priorities must be done as dictated by the entire community.

Currently, the Cyber Advisory Committee is comprised of a little over 1000 families.  Some members are very involved and provide recommendations on almost every issue while others only occasionally voice their opinions.  In the aggregate, this process is working.  I feel much more able to represent the needs of the citizens..

I would like to see the number of people participating in this process increase and you can make that happen.  Please send an email to your neighbors and friends and tell them about the Cyber Advisory Committee. Ask them to send me an email and I will add them to them to the Committee list.  Also, be sure to tell about the anonymity of committee members.  I do not keep track of who is on the committee.

Please do this as soon as possible.  Discussion and formulation of the budget and Capital Improvement Program is very important and those who are paying the bills – you - must participate in setting the priorities.

That's it.  Continue your involvement - get others involved.  Your opinion matters.

I look forward to hearing from you...

Dennis

PS: PRIVACY STATEMENT: PRIVACY STATEMENT: The Cyber Advisory Committee web pages are provided as a public service by Councilman Dennis Husch and is privately funded. The viewing of the material on this site or the participation in the "straw poll" voting process does NOT compromise the user's personal security. Email exchanged with Vice Mayor Husch may be shared with other members of the Town Council. No information is collected by this site which can be used to identify individuals or their e-mail addresses. Participation in the Cyber Advisory Committee is a no-cost, voluntary activity..