PRSRT STANDARD March 26, 2008 U.S. POSTAGE PAID ONLEY, VA. Permit NO. 517 Circulation 12,000 Eastern Shore Post Review of EMS Attack Yields Recommendations By Candy Farlow move toward his vehicle. During his retreat, howev- •always have a DPS supervisor on duty to ad- er, he tripped over a rope that had been strung be- dress and respond to staff needs; ccomack County Public Safety Director tween two posts and fell to the ground on his back •develop a policy for notification of administra- Jason Loftus has issued a report calling for as the patient continued to strike him about the tive staff. AAnumerous changes in the way some emer- head. The medic was eventually able to free himself As the incident related to the 911 Center, the re- gency calls are handled. The report was sparked by and sought refuge in the ambulance. port recommends that: the Feb. 4 incident during which a county-employed The second medic received a call from a friend •calls to the 911 Center without an underlying fire medic was assaulted while responding to a call. who is also a Virginia State Police trooper who, in medical emergency be transferred to the Sheriff’s At approximately 5:30 p.m. that day, Oak Hall turn, notified VSP dispatch to send any available Office; Rescue was paged out to a psychiatric call. Two Ac- trooper to the scene. Fire units from NASA Wallops •a policy be developed providing specific direc- comack County fire medics responded in an ambu- Flight Facility responded after monitoring the re- tion for dispatchers as to when and how to request lance and were told by the 911 Center that the Sher- quest for assistance. a response from the Sheriff's Office; iff's Office had been notified. Loftus’ report also includes a transcript of the •the possibility of an “Emergency All-Call” policy According to the report, when the medics arrived communication between the 911 Center, the patient for law enforcement be evaluated; on the scene, the patient was outside his residence and the medics, as well as between the center and •policy addressing responsiveness to field and walking toward them. After the rescue crew got the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office. providers be modified and/or adhered to; out of the ambulance, the patient rushed forward In light of the entire situation and subsequent in- •dispatch supervisors be held accountable for the and struck one of the medics on the left side of the vestigation, the report recommends that the De- actions of subordinates; head with a closed fist, causing a laceration above partment of Public Safety (DPS): •one channel be reserved for dispatch communi- his left eye. The other medic ran to an adjacent res- •make it mandatory that DPS employees carry cations and announcements; idence and called the 911 Center, indicating an im- their assigned portable radio while on duty; •adoption of standardized language when check- mediate need for law enforcement to respond. •develop a policy for response to mental/behav- ing for the need of assistance from the Sheriff's Of- According to Loftus’ report, the injured medic ioral/psychological emergency calls; fice be considered; was dazed from the first impact and unable to de- •provide an in-service for staff and other Emer- •a policy be adopted for clearing a channel for fend himself and subsequently received several gency Medical Services (EMS) personnel with re- EMS personnel to declare an emergency or “May more blows to his head from the patient. The medic gard to providing proper communications during in- attempted to back away from the assailant and tense situations; (Continued on Page 13) Breaking School Board Votes to Close Up Is Northampton Middle School By Ron West the School Board, told the standing- Hard The Northampton County room-only crowd that the funding School Board voted last Wednesday changes would reduce state money To Do to officially close Northampton by $1.9 million, about a 17.3 percent. Middle School at the end of the “We have to make some drastic Yesterday, term in June. changes,” Murray said. “The middle brave welders Citing a major budget crunch and school is not a new issue. We were from Iseler unexpected repairs that would need planning to use QZAB (Qualified Demolition of to be done at the school, Superinten- Zone Academic Bond) funds to repair Missouri took dent Dr. Richard Bowmaster asked the restrooms and locker rooms, but apart the old the School Board to vote for a budget now that funding will be shifted to Onancock package proposed by the Central Of- help pay for repairs at the high water tower, fice staff. As a result of the board’s school. If changes are not made in piece by piece, action, students in grades pre-K the budget, the Board of Supervisors and carted off through 7 will attend both Occohan- will need to raise taxes drastically.” the steel. nock and Kiptopeke elementary Jeff Walker, chairman of the Onlookers schools and Grades 8 through 12 will Board of Supervisors, concurred watched the attend Northampton High School. workers’ mid- Bowmaster pointed out that the (Continued on Page 13) air ballet as declining student enrollment and they balanced changes in the composite index, Correction on half-inch which is used to calculate state A Front-Page caption in last beams. funding, have resulted in a de- week’s Eastern Shore Post incorrect- crease in state funding. ly identified Chincoteague Mayor Photo by Supervisor Spencer Murray, who Jack Tarr as Mayor Jack Tull. Angie Crutchley until December 2007 had served on The Post regrets the error.
2 • EASTERN SHORE POST • MARCH 26, 2008 More Income Intel Size of County Budget he Eastern Shore Post recently published the salaries of Central Office personnel in the Northampton County Public School System because the figures had been a matter of some Dismays Citizen Tdiscussion with respect to recent news events. In response to the resulting requests we have received from readers for similar information concerning other county officials, the Post By Linda Cicoira is offering the following salary figures which we have received under the Freedom of Informa- A real-estate agent from Hallwood gave the Acco- tion Act. mack County Board of Supervisors some financial advice last Wednesday. While the precise job titles do not always match between Accomack and Northampton coun- “I am stunned by the size of Accomack County’s ties, these are the management positions which were presented by county officials. budget,” said Toni Trepanier. “In my opinion, it is to- tally disproportionate to our population and the av- erage income of our taxpayers. Position Name Salary “I can only hope this budget will be reviewed again and where possible, be reduced, particularly COUNTY ADMINISTRATION as it pertains to capital improvements and job cre- - ACCOMACK ation,” she continued. County Administrator Steven Miner $110,647 “It appears our county staff has grown faster Assistant County Administrator Linda Martin-Warner $72,972 than our population,” she said. “These are difficult economic times and belt tightening is necessary.” County Attorney Mark Taylor $117,875 Trepanier spoke during the public participation Director of Finance Reed Ennis $89,666 portion of the supervisor’s monthly meeting. She Director of Public Works Stewart Hall $72,867 said that rather than fund “new luxury green box Director of Building and Zoning David Fluhart $72,823 facilities,” that money should be spent on increased Director of Parks & Recreation William Allen $72,552 fire/rescue/ambulance services. Director of Public Safety Jason Loftus $66,384 “It is my understanding that the cost of one new trash facility is approximately $680,000,” she said, Director of Planning James McGowan $69,953 not disputing how nice the facilities are. “I suggest Real Estate Assessor Brent Hurdle $72,444 that part of that money would go a long way towards Economic Development Coordinator Larry Forbes $59,466 paying a living wage and retirement benefits to those Airport Manager Barbara Hoffman-Haxter $39,091 who risk life and limb routinely for us, and part could be allocated for equipment to help them help us.” COUNTY ADMINISTRATION Trepanier said she sent out an e-mail survey - NORTHAMPTON asking how people prefer their money be spent and County Administrator Katie Nunez $100,293 “only one person voted for additional green box fa- cilities and one abstained” from making an opinion. Finance Director Glenda Miller $88,216 She did not disclose how many people participated. Building Inspector Mark Cline $69,995 Regarding health insurance, Trepanier said, Clerk of Works Jim Chapman $74,948 “Elected county officials are not employees and are Code Compliance Officer Gwen Cummings-Thompson $47,740 often employed elsewhere or are self-employed or EMS Director Hollye Carpenter $55,219 retired, with benefits provided from other sources. Information Technology Director Mark Heneghan $64,136 So I suggest that elected county officials with health insurance available from other sources, vol- Planning & Zoning Director Sandra Benson $71,637 untarily remove themselves from the county insur- Public Works Director Michael Thornes $70,324 ance plan.” Solid Waste Director Ronald Rowe $48,010 Trepanier also said that the “basic principles of appraisal do not appear to have been utilized in this SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION recent re-assessment. I have performed consider- - ACCOMACK able research and found very little consistency or Superintendent W. Richard Bull Jr. $120,629 justification for some of the huge increases and, in Assistant Supt. for Administration Dr. Rhonda Hall $96,722 some cases, insufficient increases, particularly on and Human Resources waterfront estates.” Assistant Supt. for Instruction Alice G. Koziol $96,722 The budget proposal includes approximately Elementary School Coordinator Dr. Maribeth L. Haines $76,175 $65,000 for a new in-house real-estate assessor. The total package is more than $50 million. About $27 Middle School Coordinator Jason H. Baldwin $56,397 million of that is local money. High School Coordinator/Career Mark E. Nowak $77,420 + $7,742$7,742 CTE Supplement and Technical Education Director of Student Services/ Leander S. Roberts Jr. $86,456 C.D.C.D. Marsh,Marsh, JewelersJewelers Administrative Assistant “Home of the Original Director of Finance Beth O. Charnock $84,616 Chesapeake Bay Bracelets” Technology Coordinator/Textbooks James B. Carey $83,338 + $3,000 Textbook Supp. Transportation Supervisor Frank P. Hurst $64,076 45 Market St. • Onancock VA Coordinator of Special Education Jessie Duncil $80,787 Class Rings Assessment & Accountability Sandra A. Drummond $70,288 Order Now!! Coordinator Starting School Health Coordinator Kathy M. Lewis $53,057 at $129 Coordinator of Federal Programs Marianne R. Elebash $80,763 Food Service Supervisor William E. Hall Jr. $66,831 Facilities Coordinator Michael T. Tolbert $70,965 787-3333
MARCH 26, 2008 • EASTERN SHORE POST • 3 No Movement From Accomack Board on Sewage Ordinance By Linda Cicoira Recently, Bundick said, he had to haulers to work on getting long-term at the former Parksley Middle School, The majority of Accomack supervi- pay $10,000 for test samples. In addi- contracts with the Pocomoke plant. and Route 840 (Cutler Lane), from the sors voted last Wednesday to postpone tion, he learned that to replace the la- “I think we need to look into recy- secondary state highway system; changing the county’s sewage disposal goon would cost $1.2 million and then cling (waste) water, possibly by land ap- •approve spending $2,000 in Election ordinance, a move that could prohibit would be given only a one-year permit. plying,” Chesser said later. “I seriously District 1 funds for lights on the North the use of lagoons for septic waste. “A year-to-year permit would not be think you shouldn’t (even) allow lined Accomack Little League ballfield; “I was pretty disappointed,” said acceptable,” he said, adding that it is a lagoons. I want to know a lot more.” •approve spending about $300 in Supervisor Grayson Chesser following big decision for each resident who “has Chesser said he also is concerned Election District 2 funds to cover landfill the meeting. Chesser was the only su- a bathroom.” about the creek. “Millions of dollars of tipping fees and other costs associated pervisor who had announced he was Bundick said he charges $250 to seafood is at risk in a storm event.” with the Bayside Community clean-up; “ready to vote right now.” pump a septic tank even though it Still, he said he doubted it would be as •approve spending an undisclosed “All they are is big privies. We costs him $284 to do so. He com- bad as what could happen with an un- amount of Election District 3 funds to haven’t made any progress in the 400 plained that his fuel bill for January lined lagoon. buy plants and landscaping materials years since we’ve got here,” he said. totaled $24,700 and that he is hauling He wants everyone involved in the for Horntown Convenience Center; “It’s something that has to be done some of the sewage to Pocomoke, Md. process to meet. “If you’re going to dis- •pass a resolution that asks the as quickly as possible,” Chesser con- Bundick also reported that the state cuss this, you need to have all the peo- Virginia Association of Counties to ini- tinued. He added that viewing the la- is considering requiring those houses ple available.” tiate and support a “grass-roots” effort goons is what convinced him the ac- in areas that now pump their systems The proposed ordinance was adver- toward citizen petitions to initiate tion is necessary. every five years to do so annually. tised for public hearing with the amendments to the state constitution “I would like the board to go there “I don’t want us in a bind that we strictest rules, as recommended by allowing the financing of capital im- and look at these lagoons,” Chesser won’t have a place to dump,” said Su- County Attorney Mark Taylor, so that provements for Virginia’s public said. “I’m not saying close it tomorrow pervisor Wanda Thornton. She wants the document could be adjusted with- schools at the state level and to pro- or close it next week. But we’ve got to to wait to amend the ordinance until out the need for further postings. vide citizens with advance notification close it. The time for dilly dallying is after the northern landfill septic sys- No one spoke at the hearing. of “the local costs of legislation consid- over.” tem is expanded. At last week’s meeting, the supervi- ered by the General Assembly”; Officials have said that there are Supervisor Donald Hart agreed. “I sors also voted to: •request a state variance for an three unlined lagoons in the county think we have to be very careful,” he •change the start of the public ses- emergency medical technician (EMT) and that two of those have been closed said. “We have to have somewhere be- sion of the monthly meeting from 7 class taught at Parksley Volunteer Fire by the sewage hauling companies that fore we close them down … before we p.m. to 6 p.m.; Company so that instruction could con- own them. do something rash; we need to do •change the name of the county’s tinue for the 41 participants. This would Chairman Ron S. Wolff commended something careful. I don’t want to get Industrial Development Authority to allow the course to be taught by one in- Boggs Water & Sewage and Bundick’s caught with our pants down if all of a Economic Development Authority; structor while a certification issue with Well and Pump Co. for “solving two- sudden, 39,000 people would not •abandon Route 9641, the access road the second instructor is handled. thirds of the problem” when they pump their septic tanks.” stopped using two of the lagoons. Public Works Director Stewart Hall ® The issue came to light in November originally had estimated that expand- & when County Administrator Steve ing the landfill’s system would take Lewin Carr Inc., Realtors Miner reported that the haulers “are about a year. More recent inquiries www.lewincarr.com Tel. #757-787-0901 being required to hire third-party con- have led him to believe it could take sultants and develop operation and 21 months. He said that once opera- maintenance manuals for their lagoons. tional, the system could handle OPEN HOUSE … The state may force these businesses “maybe half of what’s being pumped.” 16104 Country Club Rd. Melfa, VA, 23410 into expensive solutions. … Helping Hart said he is concerned that total them benefits all the county since we dependence on one system could leave Saturday, March 29, 2008 11:00AM-2:00PM rely on them to help keep our ground- the county in dire straits in heavy Secluded, 100-acre water clean and our house sanitary.” rains or storms and that if the system “We have done everything asked of failed, untreated waste would be dis- waterfront estate with us,” one of the haulers, Jimmy charged into Assawoman Creek. 4200 sq' contemporary Bundick, told the board. In 1976 when “It is always a possibility with any home, dock, guest a lagoon near Painter was opened, it system,” said Hall. cabana, pool and 2 met all restrictions, he added. Since “That’s the same possibility now” two-car garages. then, he said he has always obtained with the lagoons, said Supervisor A beautiful combi- permits to keep it in operation. Steve D. Mallette, who wants the nation of woodlands and fields with frontage on a serene tidal creek navigable to Aboveground Pool & Jacuzzi Spa Sale the Chesapeake Bay. Subdivided into 26 three-acre homesites. Create a landing strip and fly your plane or helicopter to your front door. Claim it all for your 52’ Round 24” High Spas as low as own or invest in your future. $1,299 $1,999 $5,900,000. Complete Pool Call Schuyler Hurlbut for directions. For Details Visit 757-710-9576 eastcoastleisure.com or Call 757-340-7740 29 Market St., Onancock East Coast Leisure Pools, Hot Tubs, Billiards and Furniture e-mail: [email protected] Explore the possibilities.
4 • EASTERN SHORE POST •MARCH 26, 2008
ATLANTIC TRACTOR Daughter of Murder Victim Pleads With Others to Contact Parole Board 2-Day Sales By Candy Farlow whose lives were touched by her It was July 16, 1990, when one of mother, a teacher in the Accomack the most horrendous crime scenes County School System — write a let- ever found on the Shore was discov- ter to the state Parole Board. Extravaganza ered. That was the day the bodies of “What would be helpful,” Moon Camellia Ann Nasif Moon and Scott said, “is a reflection on the impact my Join us at Atlantic Tractor for some huge savings and lots of fun March 28th Stone were found in the Parksley area mother or Scott Stone had on the and 29th during our 2-Day Sales Extravaganza. It’s an event you don’t want to gun shop Moon owned with her hus- writer’s life and a request to deny pa- miss! Experience the highest quality equipment and customer support at band. Stone was a young man the cou- role to their murderer.” your local Atlantic Tractor today. We’re ready to provide you with the best ple had hired to help out at the store. Moon stressed that it is important AT-vantages in the industry. It would be four long months before to put Holland’s Department of Cor- the murderer was arrested and more rections number (193655) on the %NJOY 2EFRESHMENTS 3NACKS 0RIZES %QUIPMENT $EMOS than a year after that before Javis statement which should then be AND SPECIAL PRICING FINANCING Enos Holland, aka Shaft, was sen- mailed to the Virginia Parole Board, &REE