BOARD MATTER

Supervisor Linda Q. Smyth

March 8, 2004

Mr. Chairman: Under chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, and through the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Government addresses paperwork reduction measures to "ensure the greatest possible public benefit from and maximize the utility of information created, collected, maintained, used, shared and disseminated by or for the Federal Government."

While Fairfax County has adopted a variety of measures to recycle our paper waste, I am not aware that we have a County-wide standard procedure that addresses this issue. I have noticed that many forms of communication arrive in my office by facsimile, Courier/postal mail, and electronic mail. While some forms of correspondence are required, by law and Code, to arrive in paper form - and with the understanding that facsimile and electronic forms of communication are often employed for time-sensitive communiqués - it does not seem consistent with environmental and paperwork reduction movements to have three forms of the same document or correspondence arrive in one Board member's office.

Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I move that the County Executive examine the issues related to paper reduction measures related to Fairfax County Government and that he brings to the Board his proposal to address this matter.

For more information on this Board Matter, please contact Michael Aho.