Virginia Finnerty, the rookie on the Washington City Council and the city’s mayor pro tempore, said last this week she needs to “learn the ropes” to be an effective council member.

That process started in earnest Thursday afternoon as city department heads and others briefed her about city services, programs and projects. Finnerty spent several hours absorbing information they provided. She said the session proved valuable to her because it provided her an opportunity to meet with department heads.

“It was important to me to have eyeball to eyeball with everybody and know who’s doing what,” Finnerty said. “I guess the most interesting part — that’s sticking in my head — is the whole 60/40 thing. It’s just bugging me.”

Finnerty was referring more out-of-city residents using city facilities — paid for by city taxpayers — such as Brown Library, parks and sports facilities than city residents using them. She indicated concern with city taxpayers footing the bill for facilities used by out-of-city residents.

City officials explained that over the years the city has modified its policies regarding fees charged for non-city residents to use city facilities and participate in sports programs that use city sports facilities. City Manager Bobby Roberson said the city, in an effort to get non-city residents to pay their share of costs to operate the library, parks and sports facilities, charged the city’s electric customers who live outside the city higher rates.

Finnerty heard presentations from John Rodman, the city’s community and cultural services director; Stacy Drakeford, the city’s director of police and fire services; Ed Pruden, speaking for the city’s electric department; Frankie Buck, the city’s public works director; Lynn Wingate, the city’s tourism-development director and Beth Byrd, executive director of the Washington Harbor District Alliance.

Finnerty queried Rodman about the city’s interest in exploring the possibility of installing a fueling station at the city docks, something the city has looked at off an on in recent years.

“We’re about 23 miles off the Intracoastal Waterway. If somebody who wants to come visit us … and they get down here and don’t have the availability (of fuel), that limits how many boats come down. It’s something that not only affects us but some of the other marinas around also,” Rodman said.

“Why hasn’t it happened?” Finnerty asked about a fueling station on the city’s waterfront.

“It hasn’t happened because it’s quite expensive. It’s quite expensive to do that. There are a lot of environmental regulations that go along with it. Chief (Robbie) Rose can tell there are a lot of other issues, fire issues, that go along with fuel at the docks. So, there’s a lot of issues you have to look out for,” Rodman said.

The Washington Yacht & Country Club in the nearest facility to Washington that sells fuel to boaters, Rodman noted. He said the Fountain Powerboats facility on the south side of the Pamlico River might also be selling fuel to boaters.

“Most anybody you talk to (believe) one of the No. 1 things we need to look at is a fuel source,” he said.