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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.

Michael L. Simms has been appointed director of the Office of Human Rights and Equity Programs (OHREP), effective immediately. Simms has served as acting director of the office since December 2023, following the retirement of OHREP’s former director, Kenneth Saunders.

OHREP receives and investigates complaints alleging violations of the Fairfax County Human Rights Ordinance and manages the county’s Fair Housing Plan. OHREP also administers the county’s Equal Employment Enforcement program and ensures compliance with all federal, state, and county mandates granting equal access to services, programs and employment opportunities.

Simms brings a diverse background to the role. In 2013 he was promoted to senior human rights consultant with OHREP, managing the office’s mediation and conciliation program, the county’s federal contract with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, reviewing all investigations conducted by the office to ensure consistency with local, state and federal laws, and enforcing the county’s human rights ordinance. Simms also served as liaison to various state and federal agencies and conducted trainings for employees and the public on human rights issues and related legal considerations.

Simms has previous experience in law enforcement including more than a decade as a sergeant with the Contra Costa County, Ca. Sheriff's Office and in the United States Air Force.

In 1998 he began his career with Fairfax County as a senior zoning inspector in the Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) and later as a planner, also with DPZ. Since 2007 Simms has been with OHREP, beginning as a human rights specialist, a role that included analyzing discrimination complaints, conducting investigations and mediating resolutions.

Simms has a bachelor’s in information systems from Strayer University. He has received several awards and recognition for his work, including the John Levitow Award from the U.S. Air Force, and a Sheriff's Commendation. ​

Craig Miles has been appointed Fairfax County Police Civilian Review Panel (PCRP) liaison by the Board of Supervisors (BOS), effective Monday, March 11.

The PCRP was established by the BOS in 2016 to review completed Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) investigations into complaints containing allegations of abuse of authority or serious misconduct to ensure accuracy, completeness, thoroughness, objectivity and impartiality.

Miles is an adjunct professor at George Mason University where he teaches undergraduate classes on criminal investigation and criminal justice ethics, among others. He previously served as special agent in charge with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of the Inspector General, managing and developing investigative activities involving DOT’s programs and operations for a region including Virginia, Washington D.C. and Maryland. In that role his responsibilities also included developing new techniques for the detection of fraud, waste and abuse in DOT programs, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of investigative reports prior to Department of Justice referral, and overseeing personnel and regional budgets.

Miles began his career in law enforcement in 1994 with the Henrico, Va. Police Department. He was promoted to sergeant before leaving the position in 2003 to serve as a special agent with the U.S. Secret Service through 2014. He then served as a special agent with the Department of Justice before moving to DOT.

The PCRP liaison (previously executive director) coordinates activities with the panel and manages the intake process for complaints against officers and employees of the FCPD. The liaison advises and supports the panel on all matters pertaining to the independent review of FCPD investigations.

Miles holds a bachelor’s degree in government from William & Mary and a master’s in public administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.

More information about the PCRP is available online .

Linnaea Jablonski has been appointed director of the Fairfax County Department of Human Resources, with a start date of Jan. 8, 2024.

Jablonski most recently served as director of the Department of Human Resources for the City of Olympia, Wash. In that role she supervised a team including the city’s diversity, equity and inclusion coordinator and consulted and advised senior leadership on various human resources issues. Jablonski led a strategic approach to maximizing performance and accountability and accomplishing key HR initiatives with an eye towards maintaining a high performing organization. She was also responsible for labor negotiations for eight labor contracts and supported recruitment and retention efforts including directly recruiting for high-level executive positions for the City of Olympia.

Fairfax County’s Department of Human Resources manages a workforce of more than 12,000 employees. The Department of Human Resources director advises and guides senior county leadership on strategic human resource operations, policies, technology and programs; works with county officials, unions, employee groups and community organizations; and develops, implements and monitors work plans, operations, policies, standard operating procedures and long-range strategic plans.

Prior to her role with the City of Olympia, Jablonski was the human resources director for the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Ferries Division, which operates the largest ferry system in the United States and the second largest in the world, with 14 labor contracts and approximately 2,000 employees. She also served as human resources manager for the Washington State Department of Corrections. Throughout her career, Jablonski has partnered with senior leadership to develop HR-specific plans that prioritize the employees of the organization. In her various HR positions she has worked with her teams to develop, implement and communicate long-term HR strategies that align with the strategic plan of the organization.

Jablonski holds a bachelor’s in political economics and race relations from the Evergreen State College, and a master’s in negotiation and conflict resolution from California State University.

Jennifer Girard has been appointed performance auditor to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, effective Monday, Nov. 27.

Working under the guidance and direction of the board’s Audit Committee, the performance auditor to the board provides accurate information and objective advice to the board in its oversight of county programs by conducting performance, risk and financial reviews of county agencies, operations and county-funded programs; helping to ascertain that appropriated funds are expended for their intended purpose; and providing recommendations, consultation and insight on methods of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of county operations and programs.

This position is separate from the work of the Office of Internal Audit, which focuses on the day-to-day administration of the county under the direction of the county executive.

Girard will lead the Office of Financial and Program Auditor in planning, designing and conducting studies, surveys and evaluations of county agencies, programs and initiatives, as assigned by the Board of Supervisors or the Audit Committee.

Girard brings extensive experience in data analysis and visualization, risk assessment and mitigation, and senior leadership consultation on operational and strategic improvements, along with a history of building and supervising high-performing teams.

Girard previously worked for the American Red Cross National Headquarters, where she was hired in 2007. She began her career there as a grants and foundation partnerships senior associate and later served as knowledge management officer, before taking the role of audit analytics manager. Girard also previously served as a grant coordinator with a national nonprofit.

Girard earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish from Furman University and a master’s in Latin American studies from Georgetown University. She holds certifications in fraud management and data analytics and is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, among other affiliations. She is also a member of several local boards and foundations.

Fairfax County Government is closed Tuesday, Nov. 7, in recognition of Election Day. Most facilities will be closed, including the Government Center, however Office of Elections activities will continue at designated buildings, and residents may vote at their polling place from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For specific schedule information, please see our operating status page or click on the appropriate link below.

Office of Elections 
Public Schools and School Offices
Library
Animal Shelter
 
Trash and Recycling
County Trash and Recycling Collection — Residents should contact their trash and recycling collector directly for service schedule changes due to the holiday.
Private Collection Service Providers
I-66 Transfer Station and I-95 Landfill Complex
 
Courts
Circuit Court
General District Court
Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
 
Transportation
Fairfax Connector
Fastran
 
Parks, Recreation and Community Centers
Park Authority
Community Centers
Teen and Senior Centers
McLean Community Center  
Reston Community Center

WHAT: Cox Communications and Fairfax County will host the Digital Equity Summit as part of National Digital Inclusion Week. Leaders from across local government, private industry, and community organizations will lead panel discussions highlighting efforts to close the digital divide and engage with community partners to address the issue.

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Boro Station, 1765 Greensboro Station Place, McLean, VA 22102

WHY: Having digital equity means that everyone has equal access to information, education, job opportunities, healthcare services, and civic engagement platforms. This fosters inclusivity, promotes social and economic justice, and helps individuals thrive in a technology-driven society. Fairfax County has pioneered strategic partnerships with companies like Cox to drive connectivity into the communities that need it most, and this Summit will allow key stakeholder organizations to understand what is required to make digital equity a reality.

Learn more about Fairfax County's digital equity efforts. 

WHO: 

• State Senator Jennifer Boysko
• Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay
• Fairfax County Supervisor Walter Alcorn
• Ilene Albert, vice president of digital equity programs, Cox Communications
• Adeykina Ogunlegan, vice president of government and public policy, Education Superhighway;
• Fairfax County leaders
• Cox Communications employees

MEDIA CONTACTS: 

• Jeff Lavery, public relations manager, Cox Communications: jeffrey.lavery@cox.com or (401) 243-7982
• Tony Castrilli, director, Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs: anthony.castrilli@fairfaxcounty.gov

Fairfax County’s Reston Comprehensive Plan, the guiding document for land use and development decisions in Reston, has been updated. At its Sept. 12 meeting, the Board of Supervisors adopted a new plan, which includes updates to guidance for topics like affordable housing, open space and community health.

The newly adopted plan is the result of a Reston Comprehensive Plan Amendment, which was authorized by the Board of Supervisors in response to Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn’s Board Matter presented in January 2020. The plan amendment was informed by input from county staff, a community task force and public feedback in more than 50 task force meetings and seven post-task force public meetings.

“The adoption of the Reston Comprehensive Plan Amendment is a momentous achievement for Reston, ushering in a new era that ensures Reston’s continued success. Crafted through an extensive process that included numerous meetings and community outreach, this updated Plan safeguards existing neighborhoods and improves transit. It also sets the stage for the future of Reston, that is both responsive to the core values of Reston’s founder, Bob Simon, and to the valuable position that Reston plays as a major economic development location in the County,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay.

“Since my Board Matter almost four years ago, dedicated community members, Planning Commissioner John Carter and county staff have put in countless hours on creating a new draft Reston Comprehensive Plan. After much deliberation by the Planning Commission and my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors, I am proud to say that Reston has an updated comprehensive plan that is much more than a land use document. It is also a blueprint for the next phase of what Reston has always been – an inclusive community that values our green open spaces and a vibrant economy,” said Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn.

Highlights of the new Reston Comprehensive Plan:

• One Reston: encompasses both urban and suburban sections of Reston.
• Community Health: Introduces new language to encourage consideration for the health and well-being of the Reston community with land use and development decisions.
• Equity: Introduces new language to encourage consideration of equity with land use and development decisions.
• Neighborhoods: Preserves Reston’s existing neighborhoods and enhances the transit corridor.
• Affordable Housing: Maintains focus on providing affordable housing in new developments and preserves existing affordable housing in Reston.
• Open Space: Preserves Reston’s forests, lakes and stream valleys, and provides additional open and recreational spaces.

The Reston Comprehensive Plan was last updated in 2015. For additional information about the Reston Comprehensive Plan Amendment, visit the project webpage.

The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals has an opening for one member.

Interested candidates must apply by Nov. 13 to the Fairfax Circuit Court, which appoints the board’s seven members. Applicants should send their resume to Chief Judge Penney S. Azcarate, Fairfax Circuit Court, by email entitled “Board of Zoning Appeals Application” to kim.callahan@fairfaxcounty.gov OR by first-class U.S. mail to Chief Judge Penney Azcarate, 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030.

NOTE: THE APPLICATION SHOULD BE SENT VIA ONLY ONE FORM OF CORRESPONDENCE, WHETHER EMAIL OR U.S. MAIL.

This position will be for a five-year term from the date of appointment. Members of the Board of Zoning Appeals are appointed for staggered five-year terms; are compensated at a bi-weekly rate of $357.69; and serve as private citizens, not as county employees. Applicants must be residents of Fairfax County.

The Board of Zoning Appeals’ powers, duties and procedures are set forth in state law, and they are further detailed in the County’s Zoning Ordinance. These duties include:

• Hearing and deciding appeals of administrative decisions made pursuant to the Zoning Ordinance.
• Hearing and deciding applications for special permits and variances as authorized by the Zoning Ordinance.
• Hearing and deciding applications for interpretation of the zoning map where there is uncertainty about the location of a zoning district boundary.

To learn more about the Board of Zoning Appeals, visit its webpage. For more information, contact Brent Krasner; Zoning Evaluation Division, Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development , at 703-324-1280, TTY 711.

The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals has an opening for one member.

Interested candidates must apply by Nov. 13 to the Fairfax Circuit Court, which appoints the board’s seven members. Applicants should send their resume to Chief Judge Penney S. Azcarate, Fairfax Circuit Court, by email entitled “Board of Zoning Appeals Application” to kim.callahan@fairfaxcounty.gov OR by first-class U.S. mail to Chief Judge Penney Azcarate, 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030.

NOTE: THE APPLICATION SHOULD BE SENT VIA ONLY ONE FORM OF CORRESPONDENCE, WHETHER EMAIL OR U.S. MAIL.

This position will be for a five-year term from the date of appointment. Members of the Board of Zoning Appeals are appointed for staggered five-year terms; are compensated at a bi-weekly rate of $357.69; and serve as private citizens, not as county employees. Applicants must be residents of Fairfax County.

The Board of Zoning Appeals’ powers, duties and procedures are set forth in state law, and they are further detailed in the County’s Zoning Ordinance. These duties include:

• Hearing and deciding appeals of administrative decisions made pursuant to the Zoning Ordinance.
• Hearing and deciding applications for special permits and variances as authorized by the Zoning Ordinance.
• Hearing and deciding applications for interpretation of the zoning map where there is uncertainty about the location of a zoning district boundary.

To learn more about the Board of Zoning Appeals, visit its webpage. For more information, contact Brent Krasner; Zoning Evaluation Division, Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development , at 703-324-1280, TTY 711.