Expansion for Bean Medical Center in the Works Tax Rate Increases
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PRSTD STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 145 The Waldorf, MD PI E NE US Y HO Thursday, FebruaryCounty 7, 2008 • St. Mary’s County, Maryland PO INT LIG HT Times Established 2006 • Volume 3 • Issue 6 St. Mary’s Largest And Only Locally Owned Newspaper 16,956 Readers Thank You! Leonardtown Pins Hornets Expansion For Bean Medical The kids are always out here to “wrestle, and every guy on the team wants to win.” Center In The Works – Dave Cummins By Guy Leonard Leonardtown Wrestling Coach Staff Writer When he came to St. Mary’s County in 1974, Dr. Vinod K. Shah could remember a cardiologist com- ing to see patients just once a month for about four hours. Things have gotten much better since then, he said, but there is still a shortage of physicians, particularly specialists. But Shah, who heads Shah As- sociates, said he believes he has a solution to that problem. He wants to expand the Philip J. Bean Medi- cal Center in Hollywood, eventually doubling its current size. “When we built this center 10 years ago we thought it would be SMCPS Kicks good to build something nice to serve the community,” Shah said. “But our Off International Photo by Guy Leonard Dr. Vinod K. Shah, right, head of Shah Associates medical group, talks with Becky Sansbury a radiological See Bean Center page A- technician at the Philip J. Bean Medical Center in Hollywood. Shah wants to expand the center to nearly Language Expo double its size to attract more physicians to the county. In an effort to bring awareness to world languages, St. Mary’s County Public Schools has kicked off a week of cultural activities, some of which include a traditional Pedestrian Recommendations Chinese Opera, a school-wide international attire day, morning announcements given in foreign languages, information booths providing general information on Struck, Killed Presented For multicultural course offerings, and question and an- swer periods with language teachers. Those interested Enhanced Sheriff’s in attending any of the activities are encouraged to call On Route 5 the schools specifically, or Dr. Linda Lymas at 301-475- 5511, ext. 11. By Guy Leonard Department Pensions Staff Writer The family of a Hughesville man who was struck Andrea Shiell thought to help draw more recruits Delegate Bohanan to and killed Feb. 2 by an oncoming vehicle while stand- Staff Writer to the county by offering a more ing in the roadway on Route 5 in Mechanicsville were competitive retirement package, Hold Town Meetings shocked by the way On Tuesday the Board of Coun- but board members admitted that he met his end. ty Commissioners heard a dizzying though the enhancements were a Delegate John Bohanan (D-29B) has announced that presentation of a proposed pension great idea, they would need to be he will be holding town meetings “to discuss legislation The death of Donald Garfield enhancement of the Sheriff’s Of- prudent about implementing them enacted by the General Assembly during the Special Ses- fice Retirement Plan. Director of on the current budget. sion in November.” He will be talking with constituents Holton, 61, is the first this year in the Human Resources Susan L. Sabo And with a county that ranks at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Valley Lee on Feb. presented a plan with objectives to third in the state in growth and 12th, at Lexington Park Library on Feb. 19th, and at Ridge county where a vic- th tim was struck and recruit and retain deputies and cor- development, the Sheriff’s De- Firehouse on Feb. 27 . All meetings will be held from rectional officers with competitive partment will have concerns about 7:00 pm to :30 pm, and will be centered on hearing pub- killed by a vehicle. According to benefits and increased contribu- staffing as well. Commissioner lic opinions on state programs, policies, and legislation. tions to include new disability and Thomas Mattingly said it was a Those interested in attending the meetings are encouraged Holton’s daugh- ter Carolyn Green, mortality assumptions. balancing act. “One thing that con- to call the Lexington Park District Office at 301-866-4000 The proposed enhancements cerns me is that we’re able to afford or e-mail [email protected]. some of her father’s favorite activities would increase disability retirement the enhancements…this is a tight were either walking, costs by $400,000 annually, to go budget.” He commented later on biking or hitchhik- into effect by 2010, with a baseline the increasing need for deputies, ing on county roads. increase of just over $00,000. The saying that not a year has gone by Board Approves Grant The area in plan would increase the accrual when the Sheriff’s Department has Donald Garfield Holton which he was killed, rate from 2 percent to 2.5 percent, not asked for more deputies on the Application For Women’s near the Mechanic- increasing the cap for retirement road. “It takes more than a hundred sville Burch Mart, income from 70 percent to 0 per- thousand dollars to put a deputy on Homeless Shelter was one of his favorite sections to travel, she said. cent. This new accrual rate would the road,” he said. “He’d been walking that route for about 20 be applicable to all future service “We’re at that point where it’s The Board of County Commissioners approved a grant years,” Green said of her father, who lived with her and 10 years of previous service. necessary to enhance that plan,” application to continue funding for the Homeless Women in Hughesville. “All the people in the business around Employer contributions would in- said Sheriff Timothy A. Cameron. Crisis Shelter Home Program in the amount of $201,723 there knew my dad and knew he walked up and down crease from the current 30.5 per- “Employee feedback has been that as a pass-through for the Three Oaks Center. The Three the street daily.” cent of payroll to 33.6 percent by these enhancements are needed… Oaks Shelter will serve as the sub-recipient agency for the 2010. program, for which no cash match from the county com- These new enhancements are See Pensions page A-7 missioners is required. The three-year grant is expected to See Holton page A-5 provide case management services, training, communica- tions, travel, supplies, and food for the 20-bed shelter. Tax Rate Increases Requested Andrea Shiell capacity to serve the area. The Rescue crease from the current 4.4 cents to 5.1 Primary To Be Held Staff Writer squad is requesting that the current fire cents per $100 of assessment. This in- and rescue tax rate be increased from 1.1 crease is expected to generate $162,500 Feb. 12th At the Board of County Commis- cents to 2 cents per $100 of assessment. in added revenue for the department, sioners budget works session on Tues- LPVRS President Ralph Stotler which will facilitate the expansion of Registered voters are encouraged to get to their day, the Lexington Park Volunteer Res- stated in his letter to the commission- their current facility and the purchase of polling places on February 12th to vote in the primary cue Squad (LPVRS) put in their request ers that the increase was justified by the upgraded fire apparatus. elections. The closed primaries have been moved from for a tax rate increase to pay for member rising cost of operating expenses, which The Hollywood Volunteer Fire De- their original date in March. Those who have not yet benefits such as uniforms (which they the department projects to increase by partment currently receives a tax rate of received their voting cards should contact the Board of currently pay for themselves), physicals, close to 50 percent by 2014. 1.1 cents per $100 assessment in the 6th Elections at 301-475-744. health screenings, background checks, The Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Election District, and they are request- and the construction of a replacement Department presented its own request ing that it be increased by 0.9 cents. for Station 39, which has outgrown its at the hearing, calling for a tax rate in- See Tax Rate page A-7 Inside Op.-Ed .......... Page A - 4 For Continual News Obituaries..... Page A - 8 Updates Community... Page B - 4 Visit: Police ............ Page B - 7 Classifieds..... Page B - 9 somd.com Thursday Friday Saturday Sunny Partly Cloudy Showers 49° 51° 47° Section A - The County Times Thursday, February 7, 008 alternative forms of energy while Bailey be- lieved that there was enough oil in Alaska to GOP Primary Candidates Look For satisfy energy demands well into the future. “I’d make it a priority to take care of our own [oil drilling],” Bailey said. Where the two candidates did differ was Support Among St. Mary’s Republicans on the war in Iraq. Bailey supports getting out of Iraq and By Guy Leonard a Charles County School Board member and law. allowing Iraqi security forces to deal with in- Staff Writer Republican Central Committee member there. Illegal immigration also increases costs surgent threats there, while Hethmon said that Both came to St. Mary’s County Jan. 29 in for services, Hethmon said, negatively affect- U.S. forces should move out to bases in the Republican voters in the 5th U.S. Congres- an effort to raise support for their campaigns ing the economy for those legally living here. country as a “strategic insurance policy” but sional District have but two candidates this from local Republican leaders.