Student Run Bank to Open in Manassas Park High

A student-run branch of Apple Credit Union is slated to open at Manassas Park High School in April.

Members of city council discussed the initiative and lauded the program Tuesday night during their regular meeting at city hall.

 Dawn Davis, the director of business development for Apple Federal Credit Union, one of the largest credit unions in Virginia, spoke to the governing body about business loan products designed to bring business and growth to Manassas Park. 

Davis told Councilman Suhas Naddoni that in addition to the bank nearby on Route 28 and Liberia Avenue, a student run branch will open in April. 

Councilman Bryan Polk and Mayor Frank Jones gave positive accounts of working with Apple FCU and saying it is a good family bank with programs suited for teaching fiscal responsibility to children.  Apple Federal Credit Union’s website has links to information about Apple’s business products at applefcu.org.

On the subject of business in the city, the body also discussed today's Business After Hours, an event hosted by the city of Manassas Park and the  Chamber of Commerce.  Representatives of 40 local business are expected to gather from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Manassas Park Community Center. 

In other news, city council voted in favor of the installation of a new financial system that will improve the city's financial tracking across all departments and the school division. The program will also allow residents to access property values, assessments and pay utility bills from one online account.

The council listened to a presentation by Karen Spence that detailed the risks and benefits of upgrading the city’s finance software and made it clear they felt the risk in transition to a new system was less than the risk of taking no action and staying with the current outdated AS400 Bright system. 

 Jones sought out the opinions of council members with experience in software migrations, then the council voted unanimously to move forward with the Tyler implementation, which rides an Alexandria schools contract.

The contract is not to exceed the initially budgeted plan with the possible addition of $41,750 for additional training time, if necessary and the addition of a Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal program.

Council also discussed social matters related to residents, particularly the Community Services Block Grant Fund.

Addie Whitaker, director of the Manassas Park Department of Social Services, updated council about the status of the fund, saying the previous grant and additional stimulus money has gone to help needy residents purchase pharmaceuticals and pay emergency utility bills. 

The fund currently only has enough to help a few families with bills, but additional funds could become available in July, and they plan on building a foundation to focus on the fund’s sustainability, Whitaker said.

Council also held a work session after the business meeting to discuss overcrowding and i

City attorney Dean Crowhurst explained the three different types of infractions involved with subdividing a home: zoning violations, building and property code violations and fire code violations.  

Representatives from different city departments who work together to address these issues, discussed the city’s options to approaching enforcement while the council looked at ways outside of the court system to deter illegal housing activity in Manassas Park. 

Councilman Naddoni addressed the human cost of these violations that often impact tenants who do not know they are entering into an illegal situation until they’ve been evicted. 

  The, “Situation could become a real tragedy” for the tenants living in unsafe housing where landlords ignore fire code, Naddoni pointed out.

 Crowhurst and Jones suggested several ways to increase awareness of illegal housing situations in order to inform tenants before they move into an illegal and dangerous situation.

Jones pointed out that the problem had declined with the poor housing market, but as demand improves, he wants to send a message of, "Not here!" to egregious violators who intentionally seek to overcrowd a property.

The council agreed to revisit the topic next month and continue to come up with ideas to increase awareness of housing laws, and deter intentional violators from trying to rent in Manassas Park.