How did we get here?

In 2023, the Fairfax Town Council—still controlled by three of five longtime members (Barbara Coler, Lisel Blash, and Stephanie Hellman)—gave the Town Manager full authority over hiring and firing department heads. Previously, the Council interviewed candidates; now, the Manager has sole control. Their contract guarantees six months of pay and benefits—about $300,000—even if terminated just before it ends. This is now a "strong manager" form of government.

The Town Manager, along with the Mayor and Vice-Mayor, controls Council meeting agendas. The Council often rubber-stamps decisions from the Manager, staff, and consultants. Most votes were unanimous (5-0), leaving little room for dissent. Even now, with two new reform-minded councilmembers elected in late 2024, meaningful change is difficult. The Town Attorney appears to back the majority, even when they're clearly off course.

A consultant-driven land use plan—approved unanimously by the former Council—designates multiple downtown sites for high-rise housing (up to 7 stories), with no Environmental Impact Reports and no appeals. Decisions are made solely by department heads. These sites include:

• Fairfax Garage & Body Shop

• RV sales lot near the Bicycle Museum

• Businesses on Sir Francis Drake between Harry's Hill & St. Rita's

• Former Fairfax French Laundry site

• Fairfax Square across from the park

• Bank of America building

• School Street Plaza

This “Workforce Housing” model might work in big cities—but not in a small town like Fairfax with limited jobs. Turning commercial spaces into dense housing risks displacing local businesses and jobs.

Major changes like these should go to the voters. Fairfax has a strong history of using Initiatives, Referendums, and Recalls. In 2014, over 1,000 residents signed a Referendum in just 10 days to block a rezoning plan. The Town Attorney invalidated it, but the community went to court and won.

Finally, businesses in Fairfax must be free to speak up without facing retaliation, boycotts, or intimidation. That toxic culture needs to end.