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Eric Carzon has been appointed director of Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL), effective Monday, Nov. 4. Carzon brings over 27 years of experience in library management, having most recently served as regional manager for Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL). He succeeds Jessica Hudson, who left the position earlier this year.

In his role at MCPL, Carzon oversaw various leadership positions, including business manager and branch manager, before advancing to regional manager. He played a significant role in launching MCPL’s first Library of Things Music in 2018, a project that expanded access to diverse resources. Additionally, he contributed to numerous capital projects aimed at enhancing library services and facilities across the region.

Carzon has been a leader on several initiatives that received national recognition. Notable among these is the Library Refresh Capital Improvements Program, which focused on modernizing library spaces to better serve community needs. He also helped establish a successful partnership with KIDMuseum, which provided innovative educational programs for local youth. 

Carzon holds master’s degrees in library information science and public management from the University of Maryland at College Park. He is actively involved in professional organizations, including the American Library Association and the Public Library Association.

For more information about FCPL, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library.
 

Fairfax County has been identified as a national leader in using federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to promote equity. The county ranked in the top 20 of 170 cities and counties evaluated for their commitment to racial and economic equity, according to a new study by the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at The New School.

 The ARPA, SLFRF provided $130 billion in flexible funding for local governments to support COVID-19 relief and transformative investments, focusing on communities of color, Tribal communities and low-income populations disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Fairfax County's strong performance aligns with the principles outlined in its One Fairfax policy, which emphasizes the importance of racial and social equity in public decision-making.

Fairfax County received $222 million in ARPA, SLFRF funding.  Significant equity-focused investments highlighted in the study include the PIVOT Business Recovery Grant Program and the Non-Profit Sustainability Grant program, which helped mitigate the negative economic impacts experienced by small businesses and the county’s non-profit safety net providers; and a rent relief program for households experiencing a negative financial impact due to the pandemic.  

Fairfax County’s approach scored particularly high for including an explicit racial and economic equity focus to its investments, implementing strategies with high potential to impact equity, and emphasizing transparency and accountability in its efforts.

 “Our commitment to equity has guided our use of ARPA funds, ensuring that we prioritize the needs of our most vulnerable communities,” said Jeffrey McKay, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. “This recognition reflects our ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive and resilient future for all residents.”

The One Fairfax policy provides a framework for promoting equity across all publicly delivered services and guides the county’s investments to enhance opportunities for all residents. This includes initiatives in community and economic development, housing, workforce development, education and health services—areas critical to achieving long-term equity goals.

The Institute’s assessment examined six dimensions of equitable public investment: overall equity focus, application of equity tools, community engagement, equitable labor practices, breadth of equity investments and investment transparency. Fairfax County's ARPA, SLFRF investments reflect a commitment to these principles, leveraging equity tools to ensure meaningful community involvement and addressing systemic barriers.

The full findings of the Budget Equity Project can be found in the report “Advancing Equity with the American Rescue Plan’s Local Recovery Funds,” which includes a comprehensive database of assessments and case studies.
 

Toni Zollicoffer has been appointed chief equity officer for Fairfax County, effective Monday, Sept. 30. This role is a key component in advancing the One Fairfax policy, a racial and social equity initiative adopted by the Board of Supervisors to ensure that equity is at the core of all public policies and services. Zollicoffer succeeds Karla Bruce, the county’s first chief equity officer, who retires next week.

Zollicoffer has been with the Fairfax County Department of Family Services as the director of Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS) since May 2018, and brings over 25 years of leadership experience dedicated to improving outcomes for populations disproportionately affected in areas such as housing access, interpersonal violence and mental health to this new position. Her work has also been instrumental in embedding racial and social justice into the county’s violence interruption and prevention strategies, ensuring equitable outcomes for all residents.

As chief equity officer, Zollicoffer will lead the county's efforts to address disparities and promote fairness across all public policies and services. The One Fairfax policy aims to ensure that every resident, regardless of their background or circumstances, can fully participate in the county’s economic, social and cultural life.

“Toni’s exceptional track record in advancing equity and her deep understanding of community needs make her the ideal choice for this role. Her leadership will be crucial in continuing to move the One Fairfax policy forward and ensuring greater equity and inclusion in our community,” noted County Executive Bryan Hill. "I am happy for the overlap with Ms. Bruce, who has been one of my closest thought partners during the past seven years."

In her new role, Zollicoffer will oversee the integration of equity principles into the county’s policies and programs, collaborate with community stakeholders and provide guidance on addressing barriers to opportunity. She will also play a key role in the One Fairfax Community Roundtable, which supports the county’s commitment to equity by bringing together diverse voices to inform and shape policy.

Prior to her role with DSVS, Zollicoffer served as deputy director of victim services for the Executive Office of the Mayor in Washington, DC, and held senior positions at So Others Might Eat (SOME), Inc. Her education includes a certificate of advanced graduate studies and a master’s in clinical community counseling from Johns Hopkins University. She is also a licensed professional counselor and has been recognized for her work in social justice and community health.

Patrick M. Blanch will be presented with his official commission as a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge on  Friday, Sept. 20, at 4 p.m. at the Fairfax County Courthouse, Courtroom 5J, 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax. The public is invited to attend the investiture ceremony.

At the ceremony, the Honorable Scott Surovell of the Virginia Senate will present Blanch with his official commission, and Judge Todd G. Petit of the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court will ceremoniously administer his oath. Blanch previously took his oath of office on April 1, 2024.

Prior to joining the Circuit Court in April, Blanch served as a substitute judge for the district courts of Fairfax County. He practiced law for 17 years at Blanch & Hart PLLC and its precursors, focusing on criminal defense, appellate litigation and providing court-appointed and pro bono legal representation to low-income members of the Fairfax County community. Blanch began his legal career as an assistant public defender at the Fairfax County Office of the Public Defender.

Blanch earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from Millersville University of Pennsylvania and his Juris Doctor from the George Washington University School of Law.

For more information or reasonable ADA accommodations, contact Kim Callahan, Fairfax County Circuit Court, at 703-246-4166, TTY 711.

On Saturday, Aug. 17, at 10 a.m., members of the community are invited to once again march over Veterans Bridge in the heart of the Springfield Commercial Revitalization District for a celebration at the American Legion end of the bridge. The event will feature music, food, community groups, local businesses and fun. 

The Bridge Walk continues the tradition of renewing the Army/Community Covenant signing that began in 2009. The covenant is an affirmation of support by state and local communities composed of active, guard and reservist service members and their families. This year’s event will feature the introduction of the new Fort Belvoir garrison commander to the community.
 
The Bridge Walk is an annual community building event that began to mark the installation of new lighting on Veteran’s Bridge in central Springfield. Veterans Bridge (also known as the Amherst Avenue Bridge) crosses over Old Keene Mill Road and links both sides of Springfield’s Commercial Revitalization District. The bridge is a gateway to central Springfield. With its acorn lights, wide sidewalks, pedestrian stairway and attractive façade, it symbolizes the community’s vision for a revitalized Springfield and is an attractive gateway to the central business district.

For more information, contact the Board of Supervisors Franconia District Office at franconia@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-971-6262. 

Below are some questions and answers related to the July public hearings that have been rescheduled.

What happened?

Due to a staff procedural error, all public hearings that were held at the July 16, 2024, Board of Supervisors meeting must be reheard on Sept. 10, 2024. In addition, public hearings scheduled for the July 30, 2024, Board of Supervisors meeting are rescheduled to Sept. 10, as noted on the draft agenda, except for two hearings that are postponed to later dates.

We apologize to anyone impacted by this error and any inconvenience that it may have caused.

Who prepares the ads and notices for the Board’s public hearings?

County staff.

Does the Board have any role in this?

No.

When were Board members notified of the problem?

Monday, July 29, in the evening.

What is being done so that this does not happen again?

We will conduct a complete review of our public hearing advertisement process so that it does not happen again.

How will I know what time the rescheduled public hearings will occur?

Public hearings will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 10.

The public hearing on the Zoning Ordinance amendment on data centers is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

Who can testify and how do I sign up to provide testimony?

Members of the public can testify at any of the public hearings on Sept. 10 in person, by phone or by submitting video testimony. Sign up here.

To have a video shown during the testimony portion of the Sept. 10 public hearing, sign up for the speakers list and choose "Pre-recorded YouTube Video" for form of testimony, then submit your video no later than 9 a.m. the day prior to the public hearing. 

What if I testified on July 16?

Any testimony that was provided on or before July 16, 2024, will be included as part of the record for Board consideration, but all persons are invited to testify on Sept. 10.

Members of the public can:

• Add themselves to the speakers list for a public hearing on Sept. 10.
• As an alternative to appearing in person at the Sept. 10 hearing, submit a YouTube video to be shown at the Sept. 10 meeting, either using the July 16 YouTube video of themselves testifying, if accessible, or a different YouTube video.

What if I previously submitted written comments?

Written comments/testimony that has been provided will be included as part of the record for the Board. The public is invited to submit further written comments/testimony.

Has the Board made any decisions yet about data centers?

It is important to note that the Board of Supervisors has not acted on the Zoning Ordinance amendment nor on the issue of whether any pending site plans would be subject to any new regulations.

Furthermore, as part of the unanimously approved deferral motion on July 30, the Board also put applicants and the community on notice that any site plan accepted after July 16 is at the applicant’s own risk regarding application of the new regulations, regardless of how the Board addresses site plans accepted on or before July 16.

More information

Members of the community who would like additional information on the Sept. 10 Board of Supervisors public hearings can email clerktothebos@fairfaxcounty.gov.
 

Fairfax County recently ranked No. 2 in the 2024 Digital Counties Survey by The Center for Digital Government, in partnership with the National Association of Counties. The survey identifies the best technology practices among U.S. counties, including initiatives that streamline delivery of government services, encourage open data, collaboration and shared services, enhance cybersecurity and contribute to disaster recovery efforts.

Fairfax County has often been ranked in the top 10 as a technical innovator over the last 21 years -- in the top five for 10 consecutive years and earning first place four times.

This year’s ranking celebrated several technological innovations, including the county’s incorporation of AI technologies, advanced data analytics, and web infrastructure modernization through cloud migration, which serve as a model for local governance. The county’s refreshed website, alongside its Planning and Land Use System (PLUS) and Tax and Business System (TABS), incorporates integrated AI initiatives. Fairfax County has also invested in a comprehensive multichannel engagement strategy, focusing on inclusive community involvement, while also tackling digital equity issues.

“The future is now. Fairfax County will remain an innovative leader as we continue to embrace technology to better serve our residents and visitors,” said County Executive Bryan Hill.

In the coming years, Fairfax County plans to further advance its AI systems and focus on additional innovative cybersecurity and business optimization strategies to enhance data-driven decision-making objectives. This will involve implementing machine learning algorithms for public services, predictive analytics for resource allocation, and even more advanced threat detection systems to further protect sensitive information.

Learn about key IT initiatives within Fairfax County:

• FY25 IT Plan
• Artificial Intelligence Strategic Overview
• Digital Equity Action Plan

These plans and IT success align with the Countywide Strategic Plan, most notably the Effective and Efficient Government community outcome area.

Fairfax County Government earned Nextdoor’s “Neighborly Award” during a recent national government social media conference.

The award, part of the 2024 Golden Post Awards at the annual Government Social Media Conference in Palm Springs, California, honored the county for its long-time, successful use of Nextdoor.

Nextdoor chose Fairfax County out of thousands of other governments across the country using the neighborhood social media platform for several reasons, including:

• Engaging posts with large numbers of quality posts driving real value to their neighbors.
• By consistently polling neighborhoods on the value residents are getting out of posts, the county can adapt their Nextdoor content to be meaningful for residents.
• Staff from multiple departments actively post and use their department name and their real name.
• Following best practices and defining new best practices use of Nextdoor during crises (such as alerts for select weather events, public safety issues and health incidents).

Fairfax County features several departments and offices sharing information on Nextdoor either countywide, to defined districts and/or with just a few neighborhoods:

• County Government
• Police
• Fire and Rescue
• Health Department
• Planning and Development
• Board of Supervisors

More than 425,000 county residents have signed up on Nextdoor across more than 1,100 distinct neighborhoods. Nextdoor provides its platform to governments to reach verified residents without needing to attract account followers like other social media platforms. Fairfax County first joined Nextdoor in 2016 when the Police Department began its presence with crime prevention officers from each district station sharing key information and engaging neighbors, which continues today.

The Office of Public Affairs, which leads the county’s main account, has surveyed Nextdoor residents each year since 2020 to gauge satisfaction and content preferences. In the 2024 survey, 81 percent of respondents expressed positive satisfaction with the county’s use of Nextdoor, while 82 percent agreed they’ve learned more about their local government, programs and services through county posts.

“Our use of Nextdoor has been a reliable way to connect with verified county residents about many issues, especially during emergencies and emerging incidents,” says Tony Castrilli, director of public affairs. “What our collective county team has achieved through the years with this recognition is remarkable given the changing nature of social media today.”

Since 2020, Fairfax County has served on Nextdoor’s Public Agency Advisory Council, with Greg Licamele, the county’s digital content director, directly advocating Nextdoor’s leadership on behalf of county residents to enhance the user experience related to county government information. Police Department personnel have also assisted Nextdoor in creating public safety content templates for communities across the country.

The county’s use of Nextdoor aligns with the Countywide Strategic Plan for Effective and Efficient Government, specifically gauging customer satisfaction, community engagement, and enhancing communication to the community by using all available methods and tailoring messaging to individual needs (in Nextdoor’s case, by geography and neighborhood).

Jonathan D. Frieden will be presented his official commission, as a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge, on Friday, April 12, at 4 p.m. at the Fairfax County Courthouse, Courtroom 5J, 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax. The public is invited to attend the investiture ceremony.

At the ceremony, the Honorable Richard “Rip” Sullivan of the Virginia House of Delegates will present Frieden with his official commission and Judge Daniel E. Ortiz of the Court of Appeals of Virginia will ceremoniously administer his oath. Friden previously took his oath of office on Feb. 1.

Prior to joining the Circuit Court in February, Frieden served as a judge of the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for nearly five years. Before taking the bench, Frieden practiced law for 22 years with Odin, Feldman & Pittleman, P.C., where he focused on intellectual property, technology, e-commerce and other complex commercial litigation.

Frieden earned his Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia and his Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond School of Law.

For more information or reasonable ADA accommodations, contact Kim Callahan, Fairfax County Circuit Court, at 703-246-4166, TTY 711.

John Morrill has been appointed director of the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC), effective immediately. Morrill brings over 30 years of experience in energy and environmental issues and has served as acting director of the OEEC since March 2023.

The office was established in July 2019 to lead the county's interdepartmental activity on environmental and energy plans, policies and programs, including climate action and resiliency. OEEC works to connect county departments, authorities, businesses and residents to effectively advance the county’s environmental and energy goals.

Morrill joined OEEC in December 2020 as manager of the office’s Innovation and Sustainability Division. Before joining Fairfax County, he served as Arlington County’s energy manager for over 20 years, directing cost-effective projects and innovative programs to improve energy performance and energy reliability in Arlington County government facilities and across the community. In that role Morrill co-led the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy program and the Arlington Community Energy Plan and its implementation, led Arlington's participation in the U.S. DOE's Better Buildings Challenge, coordinated energy policy and programming with local, regional and national peers and liaised with utilities serving Arlington as well as other stakeholder groups.

Earlier in his career Morrill held various research and management positions during 15 years with the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) in Washington DC, and also worked briefly with the Emerald Cities Collaborative.

OEEC’s work focuses on implementation of recent climate action plans , such as the Operational Energy Strategy , which aims to achieve energy carbon neutrality in county operations by 2040; the Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP) , which addresses the causes of climate change with a goal of community-wide carbon neutrality by 2050, and Resilient Fairfax , which addresses the effects and impacts of climate change such as extreme heat, severe storms and flooding. OEEC also offers programming to residents, businesses, and organizations to mitigate the causes of climate change and build resilience.