On Tuesday, Feb. 14, , Alexandria City Manager Rashad Young presented his fiscal 2013 budget recommendations to City Council. Until Council approves the final budget on May 7, the City's Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee (BFAAC) will be examining the budget, hearing the concerns of citizens and making it's own recommendations to Council.

However when BFAAC meets, there will be a conspicuous empty seat at the table. Since Mathew Tallmer submitted his resignation on Oct. 27, 2010, Councilwoman Alicia Hughes has not had a representative on this important body. We are going into a second budget cycle without the benefit of the advice of her appointee. BFAAC's budget analysis and yearly report are major vehicles for citizen involvement in the budget process.

I hope that Ms. Hughes will make an immediate recommendation to the entire Council to fill this vacancy. I also believe that she owes the taxpayers of Alexandria an explanation of why this vacancy has existed for close to 16 months.

Susan B. Kellom

Alexandria