istrator David Konick at the outset of the hearing.

istrator David Konick at the outset of the hearing. Konick represents Bill and Susan Cameron in their challenge to the utility’s right to rebuild the bigger, higher voltage line across their property relying on an old right-of-way. Circuit Court Judge Shore Robertson issued an injunction against the power company on May 10, directing the utility to restore the Cameron’s property to its condition before the line was rebuilt or initiate condemnation proceedings. Lawyers for PotEd have subsequently filed notice of appeal on that ruling with the Virginia Supreme Court.

Konick reported last Friday that he’d checked with Commonwealth’s Attorney Douglas Baumgardner on the possible conflict posed by his handling the Cameron’s case. “He said I probably did not have one because my position (as zoning administrator) is just administrative.” But Konick added that Baumgardner also represents a property owner involved in an adversary position with Potomac Edison so he might have a conflict of interest as well.

As a property owner whose land is crossed by the rebuilt PotEd line, James Swindler said he too would abstain from considering the utility’s request on conflict of interest grounds.

“My wife is the acting president of a group of homeowners opposing Potomac Edison so I feel I can’t participate in this,” chairman Lee Bird added. “I am privy to all her thoughts which go on at great length,” he remarked, eliciting chuckles from his fellow board members.

Kenneth Nichols, the PotEd representative, explained that he was seeking only an extension of the oneyear building permit since the BZA had not specified an expiration date for the special use permit granted for construction of the new line in 1980. He questioned whether an extension was even needed for the building $ permit, maintaining that the waiver of a time limit on the