(Ed. Note: What follows is the text of the opening statement delivered Thursday, April 4, 2008, to the Frederick County Board of Supervisors and the Winchester City Council by Michael M. Foreman, chairman of the Winchester-Frederick County Unification Steering Committee.)

Chairman Shickle and members of the Frederick Board of Supervisors; President Gaynor, Mayor Minor; members of the Winchester City Council: On behalf of the Unification Steering Committee, I thank you for this meeting. In 2004, you appointed us to undertake a study of the consolidation Winchester and Frederick County. This committee met in early 2005 and adopted as a mission statement:

"...To oversee the study (by subcommittee) of more effective and efficient deliveries of local government services to the citizens of Frederick County and the City of Winchester through the consolidation of the respective local governments or parts thereof."

I am submitting for each of you a summary of the work we did, but I shall not read that.

I am pleased to present to you the reports from each of the following subcommittees: Fire & Rescue, Inspections, Planning and Zoning, Parks and Recreation, Schools, Data Processing, Water and Sewer, Social Services, and Transportation.

These reports detail for you how each of these departments would be structured under a unified government for the two jurisdictions. No report is submitted for law enforcement or the constitutional officers. The duties of the constitutional officers are set by state law; and state law also controls the structure of the offices if there is a consolidation. Law enforcement structure cannot be determined until a decision is made whether the unified government would be a city or a county, and if a county form is chosen, whether an elected sheriff would be used for law enforcement or a police department is chosen.

The Steering Committee unanimously recommends to you that the governing bodies of Winchester and Frederick County select a form of government under which they can consolidate and which is based on the subcommittee reports we are submitting, and the Steering Committee unanimously recommends unification of Winchester and Frederick County.

In our opinion, much more study must be done before you will be able to make a decision as to the form of government that would be best to bring about the most efficient and effective delivery of services to the citizens of the area. The various options as to the forms of government allowed under current law, the diverse and complicated ways government is funded in Virginia at the local level, and the ever-changing economic picture and the ever-changing demands on you may require the employment of a director to gather the information you will need to make a decision.

Finally, a majority of the members of the Steering Committee would be willing to continue to assist if you believe we can perform some service to help you as you decide what action you will take as to our recommendation and their reports.

I do want to thank all members of the Steering Committee for their work and to all citizens who have served on the various subcommittees. I do not know the total number of hours devoted, but it is substantial and I know it reflects the interest of our fellow citizens in this community and our collective desire to maintain the area as the best spot in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

I also wish to thank you for asking us to assist you in taking this look at our community, and we trust you will find our work satisfactory. I will try to answer any questions you might have.

If you will permit me one personal note: I will leave here to go to Richmond to participate in the Patsy Cline symposium at The Virginia Historical Society. Patsy was one of us, and she became a legend. I can only hope what you will do as to our future will make you legendary for future generations.