TOWN COUNCIL:
When Hospital Leaves, Locals Face Bridge-Tunnel

By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

December 17, 2012

When Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital moves out of Nassawadox, ambulances serving Cape Charles and points south will not be driving all the way to Accomack County. Instead, they will transport emergency-care patients across the 17-mile bridge-tunnel to Virginia Beach.

That’s according to Cape Charles Mayor Dora Sullivan. She and Town Manager Heather Arcos met November 9 with the Northampton County Board of Supervisors and other local mayors  and rural health representatives to discuss ways to bring emergency care closer to the area.

“Our number-one priority is quality health care,” Mayor Sullivan stressed at the December 13 Town Council meeting.

Sullivan subsequently raised another complication with the Wave: bridge/tunnel closures. In cases when the bridge is closed, usually due to high winds, an emergency vehicle would nevertheless be allowed passage. But after delivering a patient to the hospital, the vehicle would no longer have an “emergency,” and would be forced to wait until the bridge reopened to return to the Shore.

Sullivan told Town Council that Cape Charles has received at least four offers of land to build a free-standing emergency department.

Regional elected and rural health care officials continue to meet, and Sullivan hopes that a plan can be announced in January.

“We need good-quality emergency health care for this town to grow,” Sullivan maintained.

OTHER TOWN COUNCIL BUSINESS

LIBRARY: Town Manager Arcos reported discovery of a Certificate of Deposit designated for the library. The CD originally was for $50,000, but earned interest has raised its value to $68,000.

Council voted to put the funds in a Local Government Investment Pool to be used for the new library.

The town recently spent $208,000 to purchase the former Bank of America Building on Mason Avenue and is spending an additional $68,000 for upgrades and furnishing.

Councilman Frank Wendell suggested that some of the $68,000 could be used to repaint the current library building. Councilwoman Natali said that the town might rather sell it.

EXTRA HOLIDAY: Following the lead of Gov. Bob McDonnell, Town Council voted to give town employees an additional holiday December 26.

Northampton County employees are not so fortunate, as the Board of Supervisors voted not to give them the day off after Christmas.

YACHT REPAIR: South Port Investors is moving forward with work on the new yacht facility at the town harbor. Town staff continues to prepare the old wastewater plant property for use by leaseholder South Port.

A public hearing will be held January 10 on the conditional use permit requested by South Port. The Planning Commission has already approved the proposals.

OLD SCHOOL: Town Manager Arcos reported that old school developer Echelon Resources is resubmitting an application for historic tax credits after the Department of Historic Resources (DHR) turned down the initial request for tax credits to convert the old school at the park into apartments. Arcos said that DHR expressed “enthusiastic support for the project.”

Echelon’s six-month review period ends December 26. Court litigation has been postponed to January 25.

TOWN WEBSITE: The “Our Town” project is moving forward with selection of a web designer for the group’s tourism-oriented website. The new website should be operational by next March.

TOWN TRAIL: Plans continue for Phase II of Cape Charles Trail on Peach Street north of the park and along Washington Avenue. A center median will be installed on Peach Street.

TOURISM: Joan Prescott emphasized the success of the Tall Ships Festival and said there are plans to make it an annual event. She asked the Town for financial support for next year’s event.

David Shulte of the Eastern Shore Tourism Commission provided statistics on the impact of tourism on the Shore economy.

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: Although the Christian School has obtained tax-exempt status following purchase of the former Presbyterian Church, the previous owner of the church was not tax-exempt. The Christian School was required to pay back taxes owed by the previous owner but has since been promised a refund from Northampton County. Town Council will hold a hearing to determine whether to also refund taxes to the Christian School.

BROADBAND: A request for proposals to establish a wireless broadband service in town will be issued to make high-speed Internet available throughout the town. The wireless transmitters will be on the town water tank but will not be noticeable, according to Town Planner Tom Bonadeo.

SIDEWALKS: Councilman Bennett asked about progress with sidewalk repairs and was told by town staff that VDOT is deciding the schedule.  The town has not been advised of a completion date. Staff is trying to make sure that they get the sidewalks most in need of repair done before the money runs out.