MCA Roundup: Public Hearing on New Turf Field, Support for Earlier First Day of School

The McLean Citizens Association, McLean's informal town council, met Wednesday night. Here are the 5 highlights of the meeting:

1. McLean neighbors can attend and speak at a Feb. 16  public hearing on a proposal to install artificial turf  and lights on the small field next to Government Center and The Langley School on Balls Hill Road.

The upgrades are part of the total renovation of the government center that will begin in April. The county owns the field.

2. The more than 30-member MCA board approved a resolution calling on the Virginia General Assembly to approve legislation allowing school districts to set the first day of school.

The Virginia House passed this legislation Thursday. Now it goes to the Virginia Senate.

Fairfax County would like to open its schools prior to Labor Day. Currently they are prohibited by a state law requiring that schools open after Labor Day unless they receive a state waiver. This law, commonly called "The Kings Dominion" law helps the tourism industry.

3. The MCA board also voted to write a letter to the Virginia Secretary of Transportation that says:

"This letter is to express the concerns of the McLean Citizens Association (MCA) regarding the potential development of a portion in the sometimes-referenced “outer beltway” connecting Dulles International Airport and Loudoun and Prince William Counties. We are concerned that funding for studies and potential development of this project will divert funds away from needed transportation improvements in the Tysons Corner area. Tysons Corner’s transportation needs must come first, ahead of other projects in Northern Virginia.

4.  MCA has lost its tax exempt status. President Rob Jackson explained: The IRS pulled the tax exempt status for several hundred thousand entities for failure to file tax returns.  Apparently, the MCA has not done so since 1983.  We are in the process of getting reinstatement, as are countless other entities.  Since we don’t have offices, the challenge is finding the appropriate records.  This is not a big deal, but we, obviously, want to be in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.

5. Next MCA meeting: March 7. This is the annual meeting and the subject is Tysons Corner

The MCA meets the first Wednesday of each month at 8 pm at the McLean Community Center. All meetings are open to the neighbors.