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By Stephen Dareing
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
Building a state-of-the-art sewer collection and treatment system in the town of Washington seems to be easier than writing the ordinance to govern its use.
While contractors dig away and make quick work of the newT sewer, town property owners, their lawyers, and the town council continue to hammer at each other over ordinance details, seemingly accomplishing little, case in point the March 11 joint town council/planning commission public hearing that lasted three and a half hours.
Of the proposed service district - a special tax district which would apply only to sewer users in the first construction phase, and which was only recently introduced - David Fiske, attorney for The Inn at Little Washington, said, “This is a bad idea. I can think of no reason why you have to do it."
Town attorney John Bennett fired back in a lengthy exchange between the two, with other lawyers joining in, for what seemed like most of an hour.
“You want a service district because you w ant to make sure everyone pays their fair share," said Bennett.
While tempers flared at the meeting, outside town hall some property owners have privately stated they intend to sue the town if their concerns are not addressed.
An attorney, who has been retained by one property owner, was contacted by the Rappahannock News inquiring about potential legal action against the town. He said simply, “No comment"
The contention is over three issues: The creation of a new tax district, an easement agreement that gives “carte blanche" to the town wnth little liability recourse to property ownei's, and certain sections of a sewer ordinance that make it unclear who will pay what once the ordinance has passed, according to attorneys involved in discussions with the town.
In essence, these have to do with fairness, liability and taxation.
There are some cooler heads. Peter Luke, town property owner and attorney, said, “I think there's been
See MEETING, Page A8
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