Review of EMS Attack Yields Recommendations by Candy Farlow Move Toward His Vehicle
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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.