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Fairfax supervisors stopped using free park passes, but 100 others still have them Fairfax supervisors stopped using free park passes, but 100 others still have them
(3 days later)
While Fairfax County’s board of supervisors has stopped using complimentary park passes that could be construed as gifts, the county’s park authority still gives free access to pools, golf courses and other fee-collecting facilities to about 100 other people. Although members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors have stopped using complimentary park passes that could be construed as gifts, the county’s park authority still provides free access to pools, golf courses and other fee-collecting facilities to about 100 other people.
Park Authority officials disclosed Thursday that the authority’s 12 board members, plus their families and about 88 retired employees still get the free passes that have come under scrutiny as Fairfax and other jurisdictions in Virginia try to figure out how to comply with tightened standards for receiving gifts. Fairfax County Park Authority officials disclosed last week that its 12 board members, plus their families and about 88 retired employees, get the passes that have come under scrutiny as Fairfax and other jurisdictions in Virginia try to figure out how to comply with tightened standards for gifts.
[Fairfax supervisors lose free pass to county pools, golf courses and carousels][Fairfax supervisors lose free pass to county pools, golf courses and carousels]
Under a law adopted last spring in the wake of an ethics scandal involving former governor Robert F. McDonnell (R), any individual or entity is limited to $100 per year in the value of gifts given to public officials in Virginia. Under a law adopted last spring after an ethics scandal involving former governor Robert F. McDonnell (R), any individual or entity is limited to $100 per year in the value of gifts given to public officials in Virginia.
Because the Fairfax Park Authority is its own legal entity, the complimentary passes mailed out to county supervisors and their families could be in violation of that law, County Attorney David P. Bobzien advised county supervisors last month. Because the park authority is its own legal entity, the complimentary passes mailed out to county supervisors and their families could be in violation of that law, County Attorney David P. Bobzien advised the supervisors last month.
In Fairfax, an annual golf membership costs about $4,300 and a basic yearly fitness pass is about $669.In Fairfax, an annual golf membership costs about $4,300 and a basic yearly fitness pass is about $669.
But, in the case of the park authority’s board members and their relatives, the free passes are not political gifts because they come from the same entity that the board oversees, officials said. But in the case of the park authority’s board members and their relatives, the free passes are not political gifts because they come from the same entity that the board oversees, officials said.
“It’s not really a perk, it’s more like a quality control thing; You know, you need to know your product,” said park authority board member Grace Han Wolf, adding, however, that she doesn’t use her annual pass. “It’s not really a perk — it’s more like a quality-control thing. You know, you need to know your product,” said park authority board member Grace Han Wolf, adding, however, that she doesn’t use her annual pass.
Quietly distributed for decades, the passes last came under scrutiny in 2000, when anti-tax activists complained about them after park officials sought $418,000 in additional user fees from residents.Quietly distributed for decades, the passes last came under scrutiny in 2000, when anti-tax activists complained about them after park officials sought $418,000 in additional user fees from residents.
[Fairfax officials — and their families — don’t pay to play][Fairfax officials — and their families — don’t pay to play]
At that time, the passes were available to the board of supervisors and the parks board, members of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority — most of whom did not live in Fairfax — and more than 50 retired Fairfax park administrators and former board members At that time, the passes were available to the Board of Supervisors and the parks board, members of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority — most of whom did not live in Fairfax — and more than 50 retired Fairfax park administrators and former board members
Judith Pedersen, a park authority spokeswoman, said her agency stopped granting passes to regional park authority board members about five years ago.Judith Pedersen, a park authority spokeswoman, said her agency stopped granting passes to regional park authority board members about five years ago.
But, she said, officials are unsure of the exact number of complimentary passes that are currently in circulation. But, she said, officials are unsure of the exact number of complimentary passes that are in circulation.
About 88 retired employees who had more than 25 years with the park authority have received complimentary lifetime passes as a reward for their service, Pedersen said. But, she said, some of those people may have either died or left Fairfax.About 88 retired employees who had more than 25 years with the park authority have received complimentary lifetime passes as a reward for their service, Pedersen said. But, she said, some of those people may have either died or left Fairfax.
Relatives of current board members also may have paper passes that have not been recorded by the park authority, she said.Relatives of current board members also may have paper passes that have not been recorded by the park authority, she said.
Pedersen said that those relatives must be a board member’s spouse, child or grandchild who is living in the same house.Pedersen said that those relatives must be a board member’s spouse, child or grandchild who is living in the same house.
“Only the board member may bring a guest to a facility,” she said, adding that the passes are good only as long as a park authority board member is in office.“Only the board member may bring a guest to a facility,” she said, adding that the passes are good only as long as a park authority board member is in office.
William Bouie, chairman of the park authority board, said he stopped using his pass at a park golf course about four years ago.William Bouie, chairman of the park authority board, said he stopped using his pass at a park golf course about four years ago.
But he still considers the free access an invaluable tool for board members to get to know their districts and for park authority employees to know their board members.But he still considers the free access an invaluable tool for board members to get to know their districts and for park authority employees to know their board members.
“It fits right into a board member being able to do their job well,” he said.“It fits right into a board member being able to do their job well,” he said.
Bouie said he doesn’t know how many of his board members use their pass. Bouie said he doesn’t know how many of his board members use their passes.
“Most of our members are either moms or older guys,” he said. “They’re using the walking trails, the garden spots and things like that. I don’t have any golfers on my board.”“Most of our members are either moms or older guys,” he said. “They’re using the walking trails, the garden spots and things like that. I don’t have any golfers on my board.”