Richard Allabaugh

The agenda for the meeting included approval of previous meeting minutes. Key discussion topics included announcements and reports from the Chair, Vice Chair, and Council Liaison, as well as updates from the Greater Prince William Trails Coalition and Keep Manassas Beautiful regarding coalition activities, hikes, and upcoming art contests. New business items covered a Park Maintenance Update for Fiscal Year 2026, the Kick-Off for the Parks, Culture, & Recreation Master Plan, and planning for 2026 events such as EGGStravaganza and Play All Day. The committee also received a Department Update from the Assistant Director of Parks, Culture & Recreation.

The agenda covered a variety of operational and financial matters for the Utility Commission. Key discussion points included utility customer service and financial reports, updates on electric operations, and water and sewer operations reports. New business featured a detailed presentation and discussion of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, which included preliminary findings from a rate study recommending increases for Electric, Water, and Sewer services, with the Water increase being significantly higher based on cost-of-service analysis. The Commission requested a special meeting to review the NewGen data in depth. Capital improvement projects for both Electric and Water/Sewer departments were reviewed, noting status updates, funding utilization, and various project issues, such as delays in boring equipment for a major transmission main replacement and several projects being placed on hold pending new Board of Alderman (BOA) approval. Action items included requests for a memo regarding water agreements and a legend for the AWWA water audit printout.

The Collections Committee met prior to the main board meeting to review potential gifts and proposed deaccessions for the permanent collection. For the Historic Resources Board meeting, key discussions included an overview of the Collections Policy and Disaster Plan in preparation for AAM accreditation application. The Board subsequently reviewed and approved the recommendations from the Collections Committee. Furthermore, the Board adopted the Historic Resources 2026 Calendar and the Historic Resources 2026 Work Plan, which will be submitted to the City Council. Finally, the Board approved the establishment of a Cultural Events Sub-Committee, appointing two members to serve on it.

The agenda for the Historic Resources Board meeting included a review of the Collections Committee Report and an informational presentation on the kick-off for the Parks, Culture & Recreation Master Plan update. The Collections Committee meeting, held prior to the main board meeting, reviewed potential gifts to the permanent collection and recommended several items for deaccessioning, including duplicate materials and non-local artifacts, with some motions related to deaccessioning passing and others failing. The main board meeting also involved the adoption of the Historic Resources 2026 Calendar and the 2026 Work Plan, which was set to be submitted to the City Council. Furthermore, a motion was approved to establish a Cultural Events Sub-Committee, with two members appointed.

The key discussions during the meeting included scheduling the Chair and Vice Chair training, receiving updates on the Volunteer Dinner, and reviewing the term timing for upcoming appointments through 2030. A request was made to inquire about a specific member's reappointment to the Northern Virginia Workforce Development Board. The committee also authorized and subsequently certified a closed meeting to discuss the qualifications of specific applicants for appointments to Boards, Committees, and Commissions, pursuant to Virginia Code §2.2-3711(A)(1).