TOWN COUNCIL:
A Thank-You to ‘Sambo,’ PSA, Multi-Use Trail, More
Former Police Chief “Sambo” Brown (now in civilian clothes), Mayor Dora Sullivan, and new Chief Jim Pruitt at Town Council meeting. (Wave photo)
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
January 20, 2014
Cape Charles Town Council members paid tribute to newly retired Police Chief Charles “Sambo” Brown at their January 16 meeting, and welcomed new Police Chief Jim Pruitt. Mayor Dora Sullivan presented Brown with a duck carving in appreciation of his years of service to the Town.
In other business, Cape Charles Business Association President George Proto announced plans for a 2014 workshop on economic development jointly sponsored by the Association, the Town, and the County. Proto also reminded Town Council that the Business Association had asked both the Town and the County to halt plans for a sewer pipe from the highway until concerns about the effect of highway development on the Town are addressed.
Nevertheless, Assistant Town Manager Bob Panek reported that the Public Service Authority is moving forward with plans to provide wastewater treatment to commercial properties on and near Route 13. (Panek is also chairman of the PSA.) He said that 12 properties had been removed from the planned special tax district, while four other properties had been added. Councilman Frank Wendell asked Panek if plans had been put on hold. Town Manager Heather Arcos responded that the Town “has not made any progress” on providing sewer service to the PSA. [Read more…]
WEEKEND: Cold Duck
WEEKEND: COLD DUCK
By popular demand, Cape Charles’ own Ron Wrucke is sharing another of his magnificent bird photographs. His description: “In the spirit of the season, and our cold weather that doesn’t seem to want to go away, an image of some very cold ducks trying not to swim.” A duck out of water? Ron more or less got his ducks in a row, but male mallards outnumber females 6-4. Someone got left out of the cold.
See more of Ron Wrucke’s local photographs at his website, easternshoreimaging.com.
Readers are invited to submit their favorite local photos for Weekend editions of the Wave, when the picture extends all the way across the page. (Published January 18, 2014)
EDITORIAL: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
A CAPE CHARLES WAVE EDITORIAL
January 16, 2014
At 5:15 p.m. today (Thursday), members of Cape Charles Town Council will go behind closed doors at Town Hall for an “executive session.” (The Wave has been criticized in the past for referring to such meetings as “secret.”)
Virginia state law requires almost every action, or even discussion, by publicly elected or appointed bodies to be open to the public, with records available. There are only a few exceptions — personnel matters being the most important. If Town Council wishes to interview candidates for, say, chief of police, the candidates understandably deserve privacy.
But today, Town Council is meeting to consider buying or selling property. That much we know, because state law requires the Town to state the reason for its “executive” session.
Here is the reason provided by the Town Clerk:
Discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly held real property, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body. Specifically: Discussion of property leased by the Town and Town-owned property.
So, we know that today Town Council will discuss property leased by the Town, with the idea of buying it, and property owned by the Town, with the idea of selling it. What we don’t know is — just what property?
The only allowance under state law to privately discuss the sale or purchase of property is if “discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy” of the Town. Note that any “adverse effect” must be on the Town – not the other party. [Read more…]
SATURDAY: Free Variety Show at Palace Theatre
THURSDAY 1/16: Town Council Meets at St. Charles Parish Hall
Cape Charles Town Council meets 6 p.m. Thursday, January 16, at St. Charles Parish Hall, 550 Tazewell Avenue. Agenda items include: [Read more…]
FRIDAY 1/17: Laurie Klingel Presents Photo Tour of Eyre Hall Gardens
Laurie Klingel will present “The Historic Orangerie of Eyre Hall,” 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 17, as part of the Barrier Islands Center Coffee Hour Speaker Series. [Read more…]
LETTER: State Bar President-Elect on Old School Battle
KEVIN MARTINGAYLE
January 15, 2014
DEAR EDITOR,
For well over a year, a group of residents has been battling to save the historic Cape Charles High School from being lost as an historic public asset. I will explain why and suggest a course of action to protect other historic property.
First, the primary excuse for transferring the property to a private developer, for a nominal price, was a supposed need to unload a building that had been allowed to fall into disrepair. Of course, the Town of Cape Charles has ordinances that prohibit allowing property to become dilapidated, so it appears that the local governing body violated its own laws. That type of excuse for disposing of historic property is sad, ironic, and unacceptable.
Second, the deal involving Cape Charles High School converts a public asset into private property, with no public space and no future intended public use. The deal takes a building that was considered to be a part of the public park and allows it to be converted into private residences. The “renovated” building will bear little resemblance to the old high school. This would appear to be contradictory to the Cape Charles Comprehensive Plan, which calls for the preservation of public space.
Third, saving an historic school property like the Cape Charles High School is not complicated to do. The Town of Onancock managed to save the old Onancock High School, and the community is richer for the effort. Many residents urged the Cape Charles Town Council to follow the Onancock example, to no avail. In fact, a competing bid to purchase the school for more money and keep it public was rejected without any Council vote or public discussion. No good reasons were ever offered for the refusal to engage in a serious preservation effort. [Read more…]
As Shore Gains Political Muscle, Old School Group Urges Protection for Public Property
CAPE CHARLES WAVE
January 14, 2014
With Onancock native Ralph Northam now lieutenant governor, and Nassawadox native Lynwood Lewis in line to be a state senator, the community group Old School Cape Charles wants them to know the story of how Cape Charles public park property was given to a private developer. The group is urging Virginia lawmakers to pass legislation to prevent what happened in Cape Charles from happening elsewhere.
Old School leaders will participate in a telephone conference with Delegate Lewis on Thursday, January 16.
“Since our historic old school was sold without our knowledge or consent for the ridiculous sum of $10, we want to keep that from happening to any other communities in Virginia. The loss of our historic school property in Central Park has left our town with no basketball court and no public meeting space,” said Old School spokesperson Deborah Bender.
Old School has asked Lewis (now a state delegate and expected to be a state senator) to “patron” two bills — one relating to preservation of historical sites, and the other banning state tax credits for any project that removes a public asset to benefit a private developer. The second bill also provides that “no local or state park property may be sold to any developer for private gain.” [Read more…]
