Actions June 22, 2010
1) Barbara Comer addressed Council as a concerned member of the Shenandoah Volunteer Rescue Squad. She stated she was speaking as a member and not on behalf of the squad. She noted after reading the minutes of the last Town Council meeting, she felt the need to try and correct some false statements being made by others at meetings and in the community. She stated the Volunteers have already met with Page County Board of Supervisors Chairman Johnny Woodward and provided him with documented proof of the Shenandoah Volunteer Rescue Squad statements and other facts to help clear false statements. She then reported the following: a) The Shenandoah Volunteer Rescue Squad is in full compliance with the State of Virginia. In fact, on March 31, 2010, they won the award from the State for Rescue Squads. However, the County will not allow them to run calls due to disagreements with the County produced franchise agreement between the County and the Shenandoah Volunteer Rescue Squad. Their training is regulated by the state and the region we are located in. It is uniform training, no matter which Operating Medical Director (OMD) provides it to each of the rescue agencies. When the County decided to start billing for services and developed the franchise agreements, the Shenandoah Volunteer Rescue Squad Members took a stand to keep their own OMD from Rockingham Memorial Hospital (RMH) due to the fact this doctor actually comes to the Shenandoah station once a month to conduct the same training that the County’s Page Memorial Hospital OMD requires them to travel to obtain. There seems to be a resolution to this issue now as the County’s OMD and Shenandoah’s OMD have agreed to work together and allow the Shenandoah Volunteers to keep using the RMH OMD, who will continue to provide them on-site training. b) The Shenandoah Volunteer Rescue Squad’s financial documents have been in the hands of the County auditors for approximately two (2) weeks as the Shenandoah volunteers felt the need to rush through and get their paperwork to the County early. However, the Captains of the Stanley and Luray Volunteer Rescue Squads confirmed to her as of June 22, 2010, they have not turned in their financial documents to the County auditors yet. This can be confirmed by talking with the County’s auditors. The Shenandoah Volunteers have tried to work through the issues with the County and the Volunteers attorney has contacted the County several times throughout the process, but repeatedly no one from the County returned the calls. This fact is documented by their attorney’s telephone records. c) The County does the billings for the revenue recovery money for all the volunteer rescue squads in Page County, and then they are supposed to turn the money over to the volunteer agencies. Shenandoah Volunteers originally objected to how the monies from the insurance billings were to be distributed based on percentages, as it seemed unfair to the agencies based on personnel rather than the amount of time spent on calls. Shenandoah’s average calls are longer mainly due to transporting to RMH, which requires more expense to the Shenandoah Volunteer Rescue Squad. The Shenandoah Volunteer Rescue Squad also objected to the fact the franchise agreement the County developed indicated the percentage numbers could be changed by the County at any time, which also seemed unfair to the Volunteers. d) The Shenandoah Volunteer Rescue Squad has not received any funds from the County (donations or revenue recovery money) since June 2008. Wesley Shifflett asked for receipts from the volunteer squad for money the County gave them, but there were no receipts to turn over since no money has been received for anything since June 2008. County representatives told the volunteers the funds were being withheld until the issues were resolved. The County Officials were made aware of this fact. The County normally gives the volunteer rescue squads a $45,000 donation each year. However, the Shenandoah Volunteer Rescue Squad did not receive this donation either and the volunteers believe the County is using this money to pay the personnel the County hired to run calls in Shenandoah now since the County shut down the volunteer squad. The Shenandoah Volunteer Rescue Squad has not received any of the revenue recovery money the County billed patients for transportation by the volunteer agency since June 2008. e) The Volunteers help the community because they care, as no squad volunteers are paid. They all hope the remaining franchise issues can be resolved quickly. The Page County Board of Supervisors will have to vote to allow the Shenandoah Volunteer Rescue Squad to run calls again. Anyone with questions may contact Barbara Comer at anytime.
2) Debra Comer addressed Council as a member of the Shenandoah Volunteer Rescue Squad, but not on behalf of the agency. She noted anyone can visit the Shenandoah Volunteer Rescue Squad at any time. If they contact her, she will take them there. She stated although she does not agree with the Volunteer Squad Captain David Huffman 100 percent of the time on personal issues, but she does stand behind him 100 percent in the decisions he makes for the volunteer rescue squad, which are always in the best interest of the agency. She noted some of his decisions involved not allowing younger members to tear up squad owned property, and then those young members would get mad at him. She felt anyone not volunteering because they dislike one person are probably not volunteering for the right reasons anyway. She noted volunteers can sign up for duty to basically work with whoever they want. She explained each member of the volunteer squad has their own job within the agency and she is in charge of membership applications. She explained it is hurtful to her that the volunteers who have been dedicated and served this community for over 40 years are not being allowed to operate the Shenandoah Volunteer Rescue Squad due to franchise disagreements with the County, but she is very hopeful they will be allowed to operate soon.
3) Council authorized payment of $5,000 to the Shenandoah Volunteer Rescue Squad, which is the standard donation to the agency and was included in the Town’s budget for 2009/2010.
4) Authorized closing Town Hall to the public on July 7-9, 2010, to allow employees to close out the previous fiscal year books and set up the books for the new fiscal year.
5) Adopted a Resolution to authorize paying the contribution to VRS under Section 414 (h) of the Internal Revenue Code for Plan 2 Employees.
6) Received a thank you letter from the Shenandoah Library for the Town’s donation to support the library.
7) Authorized a five (5) percent salary increase for Alice Pence for obtaining the Wastewater III Operator License, effective July 1, 2010. Congratulations Alice!
8) Approved the consolidation of lots request from Lorene Good Estate/Jeff Staples to combine two (2) lots into one (1) lot at the intersection of Eighth Street and Shenandoah Avenue.
9) Agreed to ask the Planning Commission to make a recommendation on a new member to fill either Commissioner Pierce or Lowe’s position on the Planning Commission, effective July 1, 2010. The Planning Commission will set up a special meeting prior to July 1, 2010 to vote on this issue.
10) Received information to nominate someone for the annual Congressional Veteran Commendation. Council may nominate someone for the award.
11) Adopted a Resolution requesting the General Assembly enact laws to strictly prohibit and deter all predatory, usurious lending practices in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
12) Received an invitation to the grand opening of Century Station Playground on June 25, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. in Stanley. This playground was sponsored by Pioneer Bank.
13) Heard several Council Members will attend the Stanley Homecoming Parade on July 3, 2010, at 6 p.m. Prior to the parade, there will be a reception at the Stanley Fire Hall at 4 p.m.
14) Received a donation from the Shenandoah Women’s Club in the amount of $2,347 to be used at the Big Gem Park.
15) Work Orders: water leak on Fifth Street-near the Beebe residence; repair water leak on Second Street; replace water meter lid at Masonic Lodge; weed along right-of-ways at Third and Pennsylvania Avenue; determine a way to remove the wheels from the cannon for repairs; change banners on 340 to summer.
16) Authorized bid in amount of $3,250 from Hensil Good to repave areas of water leak repairs to meet VDOT regulations.
17) Received Town budget reports through May 31, 2010 for review.
18) Received May 2010 vehicle gas log for review.
19) Agreed to present a community enhancement award at the next meeting for a property renovated on Quincy Avenue.
20) Parks and Recreation News: The Town is participating in the summer youth program through the school system. There will be two young men working for the Town parks and public works all summer and they are being paid by the school system. Big Gem Park – Ball field areas have been seeded and straw placed down over it. River Park – The walking trail is almost complete. First Street – New flags were ordered for the flag poles and for the area on the sidewalk that will hold 3 flags.
21) Authorized Computer Center Supervisor Joyce Fluharty to set hours at the center as needed.
22) Reminder: Cruise In is scheduled for Friday, June 25, 2010 at 6 p.m. on First Street in Shenandoah.
23) Requested the Chief of Police bring his new car to at least one of the First Street Cruise Ins to answer citizens questions and allow children to see the car.
24) Heard the Personnel Committee will set up interviews for the vacant police officer position during the first week in July.
25) Authorized Councilmen Comer and Pierce to serve on a committee to review the pros and cons of the following: adopting a property maintenance code; possibly asking the General Assembly to amend the Town Charter to change the Town Council meetings from twice a month to once a month; possibly asking the General Assembly to amend the Town Charter to place the volunteer rescue squad under the Town’s Charter – same as the fire company is now. The Committee will collect information on these issues and report back to the full Council for decisions.
26) Reminder: Joint Public Hearing is scheduled between the Town Council and the Town Planning Commission on July 13, 2010 at 7 p.m. to hear a special use permit request from Sheila Bentley to relocate her barber shop from Second Street to property located at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Sixth Street.
27) Heard about 350 people attended the grave marking ceremony of patriot Jacob Smith on Saturday, June 19th at the Jollett cemetery. Mayor Lucas made a presentation at this event.
28) Reminded citizens Rockingham Memorial Hospital has opened their new facility and anyone seeking services should go to the new location.
29) Presented Councilwoman Switzer with flowers and a card in appreciation for her service on the Town Council.
