Former board officers urge Reston Association directors to stick to governance; members decry CEO turnover

Longtime Reston members urged the Reston Association board on Feb. 26 to focus on governance and preserve continuity at the executive level as the association heads into board elections.

Julie Bitser, a past board president and current chair of the parks and recreation advisory committee, told directors that elected members should set policy, ask hard questions and “stay financially sound.” She said professional staff should manage day‑to‑day operations and that when boards drift into operations, accountability blurs and strategic thinking suffers. “When boards drift into operations, everyone in our community loses,” Bitser said.

Andy Seagull, speaking on behalf of several former RA presidents, reinforced that message and urged voters to choose candidates who respect the distinction between governance and management. The group endorsed Dayton Lynch for the at‑large director seat, saying he would “maximize the return members receive on our assessment dollars while staying true to Reston's founding principles,” Seagull said.

Other public comments highlighted the consequences of leadership instability. One resident said the organization was safer under continuous, professional leadership and called repeated CEO turnover “profoundly disruptive.” Speakers described improved operations since the current executive team took office and warned that further turnover could undermine staff effectiveness.

Directors did not take formal action on the public comments, but several board members referenced the remarks later in the meeting as they discussed the association's facilities and long‑range planning. The board also reminded members that voting for the annual board election opens Feb. 27 and that links to the eBallot vendor will be posted on the RA website.