[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6544035,"mediaKeyId","5906867-8ccecf30bf59671d9d5f57d2d526a9ce","parentId",5906867,"title","Votes at a glance: Finance Committee forwards DSS position, accepts SAFER grant, approves 2026 meeting schedule; minutes approved with one abstention","audioSeconds",2288,"startMs",8000,"endMs",2296000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906867-8ccecf30bf59671d9d5f57d2d526a9ce&start=8&end=2296","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906867-8ccecf30bf59671d9d5f57d2d526a9ce/thumbnail_8000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6544035/Winchester-City/Frederick-County/Virginia/Votes-at-a-glance-Finance-Committee-forwards-DSS-position-accepts-SAFER-grant-approves-2026-meeting-schedule-minutes-approved-with-one-abstention","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544035-6fd7dcbe935bc4e4d21fcee50b20a10e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207323&Signature=g4lGybgTVh0-XAP71yOkEJOqjXphydHT7Bqb6qbkIgnIvCA7ILGrzsAaFmj8GskboJnB86pCXVDFI9IEtrWar6GshnnVPtf99CGwiArCnLVPPqgYK8zSxTt7RncAnNf33X49IteDw5rAhBUFnAlSuyTYnG5icsXCbWJvlMnTPQXF8KF~ejnDDKkXaMZMjNh~M13MlYJcQxr2tFWkQPHFi8n3KNDl~2NK-iELSGlphuylGMThsDwt7KAB74CWaxw7GXDGyueTuDhJ5BLjPajVj1k5QcfvJIZA4fF-3T97jJay6fMU1MwnOhdNh~Cj0fHxV1Y1IhzxQR9DU5m7wI6eoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Winchester","date","2025-10-07T00:00:00Z","article","The Winchester City Finance Committee took the following formal actions during its meeting:

- Approval of minutes from the Sept. 2 meeting: The committee approved the minutes as presented. The record notes one abstention \"due to absence.\" No further details on the abstention were provided.

- Resolution to add a full‑time family‑finding specialist (Department of Social Services): The committee voted to forward the resolution to full council with a recommendation for approval. The position was described as fully funded by a state grant for five years and part of the CFW2 collaborative (Clark, Frederick, Winchester and Warren counties).

- Resolution to accept FY24 SAFER grant and amend position classification/pay plan: The committee voted to forward the resolution to full council. Presenters said the award funds six firefighter positions partially over the grant term and that the city will present the required local match in an upcoming budget action.

- Resolution to set the 2026 Finance Committee meeting schedule: The committee voted to forward the proposed 2026 meeting dates (second and fourth Tuesdays, with customary recesses in July and December) to the full council with a recommendation for approval.

Votes were conducted by voice; specific vote tallies and mover/second names were not recorded in the transcript beyond the committee chair calling for \"aye.\" All forwarded items carried on voice votes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council - Finance Committee - 1:00 PM - Oct 07 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its meeting the Winchester City Finance Committee approved minutes, forwarded three resolutions to the full council (DSS position addition, SAFER grant acceptance, 2026 meeting schedule) and recorded one abstention on the minutes vote.","taxTitle","Winchester City, Frederick County, Virginia","taxId",5107,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6544040,"Committee recommends accepting SAFER grant to fund six firefighter positions; budget match required later",497,1722000,2219000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906867-8ccecf30bf59671d9d5f57d2d526a9ce&start=1722&end=2219","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906867-8ccecf30bf59671d9d5f57d2d526a9ce/thumbnail_1722000.jpg","/articles/6544040/Winchester-City/Frederick-County/Virginia/Committee-recommends-accepting-SAFER-grant-to-fund-six-firefighter-positions-budget-match-required-later","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544040-40087a6603370beb49f7d10ce338a223/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207323&Signature=M7FbO~4PrwOIw9AI8OQUB7RNtB-o3f3kvXoIyM05Lv6am-afeeMNdGjztYuI~fFrNjiDuc3U5GT4gnhb3Y~csMx8ag8pTlmknvglPpqQRcAGzUf2-WUT7Ou~TvJRoDgK6DcrwpOGmX-5bale~Oil1sBCrqzMKqT5RzrEsl4vwFWINWT5DkN77FxRDtu7aCBHnfA8RFz4mq3GVDprVI53kiZGdYqLcXAfr7QFliHZmB7dxrvVkvbJ-TgkMapRti-hzUnJtpG~NBSHZqEH9nLtvT1F9LhbvY7IyOgfJe76U1Nkr6-F5lkUZMsi4Ym3YrqspySTsR9MArNQu2Jt-h5bAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Winchester City Finance Committee voted to forward to full council a resolution to accept a FY24 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant that will fund six firefighter positions partially over the grant period.

Patrick Elwell, who presented financial details, said, \"The award that we've received is for 6 firefighter positions, funded partially over 3 years.\" He told the committee the grant's local match requirement moves from 25% in the first two years to 65% in year three and that the grant timeline required breaking out costs across fiscal years that do not match the city's normal budget year.

Chief Archie Drew Savage described how the new hires fit departmental staffing goals. \"This is this gets this will get us to 3 on all the fire apparatus,\" Savage said, describing the effect on minimum staffing. Elwell told the committee the grant would pay for a little over half of the cost of the positions during the grant's active years.

Why it matters: City officials said the positions were already part of the department's staffing plan and that the SAFER award accelerates progress toward full operational staffing. Committee members also noted that the timing coincides with the commissioning of the city's first city‑owned fire station and that the department had recent academy graduates and candidates ready to enter training.

Details and next steps: Elwell said the grant's schedule spans FY2026 through FY2029 on the packet charts because the federal grant dates do not align with the city's fiscal year, producing a four‑year breakout. The city will include its required local match in an upcoming budget amendment or supplemental appropriation. The committee moved and seconded forwarding the resolution to full council; the motion carried on a voice vote.

Officials said the department plans to fold the SAFER hires into the academy already planned, with most recruits entering training once council acceptance and budget actions are complete.","Winchester's Finance Committee voted to forward a resolution accepting a FY24 SAFER grant that would fund six new firefighter positions over a multi‑year period; officials said the grant pays roughly half the cost over the grant term and will help the department reach three‑on‑apparatus staffing goals.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6544044,"Finance Committee forwards resolution to add full‑time family‑finding specialist, citing fully funded state grant",275,1441000,1716000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906867-8ccecf30bf59671d9d5f57d2d526a9ce&start=1441&end=1716","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906867-8ccecf30bf59671d9d5f57d2d526a9ce/thumbnail_1441000.jpg","/articles/6544044/Winchester-City/Frederick-County/Virginia/Finance-Committee-forwards-resolution-to-add-fulltime-familyfinding-specialist-citing-fully-funded-state-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544044-f632fc99233a39971c2f7831c0316ea5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207323&Signature=j76sJVNFpQu13lYSMCH6SCWC6LPhEWvObSXfstAnMxEvDB~7BfItIpfRj5IGUk5CK2m5ja5OPW8kv6HqXD3vcLiS3TLaTvU5KuVGB5ffn7-EnHiAQdcK1h4kqN41MbnOPO44-9~8-8xRChsk1qzzc8fvgW2z-8CkG2KPUYh7kxhObbAsxriPztvYX7QVa6~Dr46o3J~jDZdXVA-UdigpQAzb-64qvjClazvHcN9YQrZHxEdJ7L6on9S5DMfNYgmgmAuX0hc5ZuNG5VHV3tUQv41FxVib-aDEg4rmrfmbHiRDhYibmcyspm9rJfS4EKTYL~s~slOdcbXi0gLMnboA1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Winchester City Finance Committee voted to forward to full council a resolution to add a full‑time family‑finding specialist position to the city's classification and pay plan for the Department of Social Services.

Rebecca Hopkins, deputy director of social services, told the committee, \"Our amazing DSS team received a grant from the state, fully funded, so there's no local match.\" She said the grant runs for five years and that the new position must be added to the pay plan for the locality to receive the award.

Why it matters: The position is part of a collaborative program called CFW2 (Clark, Frederick, Winchester, and Warren counties) that provides training, recruitment and support to local foster families. Hopkins said the grant will support family‑finding work for children who entered foster care in the four jurisdictions and that searches for relatives or fictive kin can extend beyond local borders.

Details: The committee heard that the CFW2 program is funded in part by each of the four participating localities and that the family‑finding specialist will serve the collaborative. Hopkins said eligible children would include those who entered foster care within the four‑jurisdiction area but that searches for relatives could reach anywhere in the state or nation.

Committee action: A councilor moved and seconded the recommendation to forward the resolution to full council with a recommendation for approval. The motion carried on a voice vote and will be scheduled for a future city council meeting.","The Finance Committee voted to forward a resolution to full council recommending the addition of a full‑time family‑finding specialist in the Department of Social Services, funded by a five‑year state grant with no local match; the position is part of a four-jurisdiction CFW2 collaborative.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6544047,"Winchester Regional Airport officials report $40 million-plus in recent investment, highlight terminal, workforce studies",754,45000,799000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906867-8ccecf30bf59671d9d5f57d2d526a9ce&start=45&end=799","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906867-8ccecf30bf59671d9d5f57d2d526a9ce/thumbnail_45000.jpg","/articles/6544047/Winchester-City/Frederick-County/Virginia/Winchester-Regional-Airport-officials-report-40-million-plus-in-recent-investment-highlight-terminal-workforce-studies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544047-5fc61a2d9fd330c4a59742af196a29ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207323&Signature=P7Q3b~LJAI3jatq7h0Om9xpuch-ARfeMiXYeGEzcU2q2zo20TJ6eqhjTlCtscv1dOhDhOQuHUJegExP2iILx4ncRBSP~f78dYmzJSKf3m08I05EKAf1MdL1tJHnXRFVmlu4gfoLBuFo6T8fDdhTUn749V2AAHG2XVnYjUL-oUJnb0YCS1FR6j3LMOzDQGdzOvLDLqRrt80e4d0ll3MVCVbjXHSV8qKgsXwZCv8~J2RKwGqbBOlvtDRLa2f~qxGOjjom06fqY2VJUGqCALuWyX0gT4Msa02l56UFfXKq~7RPmYjfUemw25jVHyKcFB0xLWMmhDopCnbQkSdQeFpIg6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Winchester City Finance Committee members heard an update from Winchester Regional Airport Authority Chairman Bill Pfeiffer and airport representative Nick Sabo on capital projects, recent grants and economic development plans.

The airport has attracted what airport staff described as more than $40 million in public and private investment over roughly six years. \"It's a pretty staggering amount there, about $24,000,000 actually,\" Sabo said, adding that a recently completed $6,700,000 project and a recent $7,200,000 state and FAA grant for a taxiway relocation raise the total to \"over $40,000,000 worth of capital investment at the airport in about 6 years.\" Pfeiffer said the authority's requests to the city for operating support have fallen dramatically over the last five to six years.

Why it matters: Airport leaders and the committee framed the investments as leveraging relatively small city contributions into much larger state, federal and private funding packages. Sabo told the committee the airport's capital grants derive from aviation activity fees and that aviation revenues “pay for itself,” and Pfeiffer emphasized the authority's apolitical governance and regional partnerships as reasons for the airport's success.

Details and supporting facts: Sabo said the city’s direct capital investment during that period was \"just north of about $200,000,\" which airport staff contrasted with the millions in external grants and private hangar development. Sabo also highlighted a new terminal the authority opened in January and said the terminal includes revenue-generating space that has \"already exceeded our earliest pro forma projections for revenue.\" He said the terminal was intentionally designed as a community connection point and that the authority has hosted regular \"story time at the airport,\" which draws roughly 100 people monthly.

On economic development, Sabo summarized two recent Go Virginia-funded studies: a site analysis of airport-owned land intended to inform marketing for aviation‑related development and a Northern Shenandoah Valley workforce-pipeline study that will conclude in the coming weeks. He said the site analysis included work with Frederick County zoning staff to confirm what development types could be allowed. The authority also launched the Winchester Regional Aviation Foundation, a 501(c)(3) set to support outreach, events and scholarships; the foundation will award its first local scholarship later this year.

Sabo and Pfeiffer described the authority's approach to new development as constrained by FAA and state grant rules: land acquired or improved with federal/state aviation dollars generally requires that airport land be used for aeronautical purposes, and the authority said proposed projects must satisfy state and FAA review. \"Aeronautical use is a bar that we're going to have to achieve for all that,\" Sabo said when asked about the North Side development concept.

Community programming and events: The authority invited the public to an Oct. 18 Wings and Wheels event organized with the Chamber of Commerce, noting the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation will bring a C-54 cargo aircraft and that prior large events have drawn about 3,300 attendees. Sabo described other community outreach—Civil Air Patrol, Starbase, Young Eagles—and workforce partners including Shenandoah University and Laurel Ridge that the authority says will support advanced air mobility workforce needs.

Questions from committee members focused on post‑construction terminal performance, traffic impacts of North Side development and the types of tenants the airport attracts. Sabo said early terminal performance has been “excellent,” cited conservative environmental and airspace impacts in recent studies, and said the authority expects some increase in ground traffic depending on the tenant mix. Pfeiffer and Sabo cited FlyAdvanced as an example of a tenant that moved to Winchester from another regional airport.

The presentation was informational; no action was required or taken by the finance committee during the update.","Winchester Regional Airport Authority leaders told the City Finance Committee the airport has attracted more than $40 million in public and private capital in recent years, opened a new terminal, secured a state/FAA taxiway grant and is pursuing workforce and economic development studies.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Finance Committee forwards DSS position, accepts SAFER grant, approves 2026 meeting schedule; minutes approved with one abstention

Committee recommends accepting SAFER grant to fund six firefighter positions; budget match required later

Finance Committee forwards resolution to add full‑time family‑finding specialist, citing fully funded state grant

Winchester Regional Airport officials report $40 million-plus in recent investment, highlight terminal, workforce studies