Town Picks New Police Chief, Won’t Say Who
CAPE CHARLES WAVE
December 17, 2013
Cape Charles Town Council met in closed session yesterday to interview candidates for Chief of Police. According to the agenda above, Council then returned to open session and appointed a new police chief.
Under Virginia law, votes by a public body must be taken in open session accessible to the public.
Town Clerk Libby Hume told the Wave that she did not attend the Council meeting last night, nor did Assistant Town Clerk Amanda Hurley. By law, minutes must be taken of every Council meeting. Hume said that a recording had been made of the open session of the meeting, but that it was in Town Manager Heather Arcos’ office. [Read more…]
COMMENTARY:
Town Should Engage on County Development
By WAYNE CREED
December 17, 2013
As was reported in the Wave, the Cape Charles Planning Commission continues to mull ideas around Route 13 development. This is a critical role at a critical time, and could be argued is their most important task. There have been comments that Cape Charles is already “business ready” and that development should somehow only be directed towards the Town. I’m not convinced a waste water plant and six policemen constitute “business ready” — the reality is that the County will eventually develop outside of town; it has to. It is important that Cape Charles stays engaged so that we can have a voice in how this development takes place.
Unfortunately, the folks in Cape Charles running point on this issue have extremely limited and somewhat backwards notions of just what development means. As usual, they defer to antiquated, sprawl-promoting plans that include hotels and strip malls. In the end, these industries provide little economic boost, and destroy rural character in the process.
Sustainable rural development must become the fundamental principle which underpins our development goals — a multifaceted approach to managing our environmental, economic, and social resources for the long term. The hope is to reverse out-migration, combat poverty, stimulate employment and equality of opportunity, and ultimately improve rural well-being in not just Cape Charles but also the County.
The focus and framework should be around agriculture, medium-scale industries, rural services, and tourism. These policies should promote development which sustains the Eastern Shore’s rural landscapes by proactively protecting natural resources, biodiversity, and our cultural identity. In other words, meet the needs of the present without compromising the Shore’s future. [Read more…]
ANALYSIS: Town Borrowing Twice, Spending Once
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
December 16, 2013
Cape Charles Town Council has voted to borrow $1 million for “new” projects including sewer repairs, freshwater wells, and a multi-use trail. But a Wave analysis reveals that the Town had already obtained money for these same projects, either from borrowing or from budgeting with tax money.
At a December 3 work session, Town Council reviewed “Capital Projects Priorities” (click to read) for spending $1.1 million. The priorities are:
FIRST PRIORITY: Repair 100 manholes to reduce rainwater inflow and infiltration: $100,000
An August 14, 2008, staff memo by Bob Panek (click to read) states: “The Town is correcting many problems associated with fresh water inflow and infiltration (I&I) into the wastewater system . . . So far, we have . . . fixed broken cleanout caps and installed nylon manhole inserts. Additionally, a contract has been awarded for raising the manhole covers.”
SECOND PRIORITY: Install a comminutor (grinder) for rags and other sewer debris: $50,000
THIRD PRIORITY: Upgrade sewer pump stations at Plum and Pine streets: $350,000
The 2008 Panek memo states: “Repairs and upgrades to the Mason Avenue, Pine Street, Plum Street, and Washington Avenue pump stations:” $550,000.
Town Council approved a resolution the same day authorizing (then) Assistant Town Manager Heather Arcos to sign documents for an EPA grant for “55% of project costs.” According to the resolution (click to read), “the Town has budgeted for the required 45% match.” A Project Narrative dated August 2008 states: “The proposed project will complete our efforts to eliminate the potential for wastewater overflows.”
The total projected cost of the projects was $1.2 million, with 55% funded by the EPA grant. In 2010 the Town borrowed the remaining $540,000 as part of a $2.6 million Recovery Zone Economic Development Bond. The bond application (click to read) states the following Town projects to be financed by the Town: [Read more…]
Planning Commission Further Mulls Highway Development
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
December 12, 2013
The Cape Charles Planning Commission and Northampton County planning and zoning staff continue to refine ideas about future development outside of Cape Charles on Stone Road (184) and Route 13.
Cape Charles Planning Commission reviewed ideas December 10 for how to influence development outside the town limits, including at the intersection of Route 13 and 184, which under the proposed changes to the Northampton County Zoning Ordinance would be zoned commercial.
At a recent County information meeting, Northampton Director of Development Charles McSwain asked Cape Charles Councilman Frank Wendell what he thought about having commercial enterprises at the Cape Charles traffic light that could potentially direct visitors into Cape Charles. Wendell replied that he would rather see commercial activity in the shuttered Meatland building just inside town.
The County Comprehensive Plan notes that residents are concerned about the level of commercial development on Route 13 at key intersections. The Plan says that while Route 13 has typically served through-travelers, residents are concerned that too much commercial development along the highway will create congestion, compete with commercial activities in the towns, and fundamentally alter the character of the rural “view from the road.”
The Plan also recognizes that Route 13 sits atop the prime recharge area for the County’s sole-source aquifer and ground-water supply. And it noted residents’ opposition to the extension of any Interstate road corridor running from Delaware to South Carolina, seeing it as detrimental to the County’s economy and way of life based on its natural resources and farming and maritime industries.
Planning Commission suggestions for managing commercial development coming into Cape Charles do not reflect either the County or the Town Comprehensive Plans (both of which call for encouraging development within the Town). The Planning Commission has discussed these suggestions off and on since 2010, but their origin is unclear, as they do not originate from the Comprehensive Plan or from the Annexation Agreement. [Read more…]
Town Council Votes to Borrow $1 Million for New Projects
Town Treasurer Kim Coates: Without more borrowing, “we would definitely need to increase utility rates.” (Wave photo)
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
December 10, 2013
Town Council voted December 5 to borrow up to $1.03 million for projects including water and sewer infrastructure, sidewalks, and breakwaters. At a public hearing preceding the vote, three residents spoke against the borrowing and one spoke in favor.
Deborah Bender stated that in 2006 when Mayor Dora Sullivan assumed office, Town debt was under $3 million – now it is about $11 million. She asked why, although the Town had just spent $19 million on a new sewer treatment plant, more money was now needed for sewers. “How is it that Onancock built their sewer plant which is three times bigger and paid $12 million,” she wondered.
Bender also noted that the new borrowing includes $300,000 to connect new wells, but money that had already been borrowed for that purpose was instead used to buy the new library building. Additionally, she pointed out that the loan includes $150,000 for sidewalks (multi-use trail) that were already budgeted this year. Mayor Sullivan gaveled Bender before she could complete her statement.
The next speaker, David Gay, noting that the Town is already $10 million in debt, asked, “How much debt is enough? – There seems to be no accountability on how these borrowings are spent. The same projects keep coming up year after year as the justification for the loans, but the projects are never completed and the money is used for something else.” [Read more…]
Vacant Buildings Get Water Bills (With One Exception)
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
December 9, 2013
The minimum utility charge for any building in Cape Charles is $108 a month – whether or not a drop of water is consumed. In some cases, owners of vacant buildings have not paid a water bill for years, but the monthly charges continue to accrue. A long-vacant house on Harbor Avenue reportedly has an outstanding water bill of over $8,000.
But it’s not just vacant buildings that have to pay: if a property ever had a building on it, the monthly charges continue even if the building is demolished. The justification, according to Assistant Town Manager Bob Panek, is that 70 percent of water and sewer expenses are for fixed costs such as debt service and personnel that accrue whether or not a customer uses water.
That’s the case facing South Port Investors, who leased property from the Town in 2007 in preparation for construction of Cape Charles Yacht Center, now underway. The property included a building connected to Town water and sewer, but the structure subsequently was demolished.
Not until February of this year did South Port ask the Town to turn the water back on. But in accordance with Town code, officials demanded over $5,000 in back charges, including over $400 interest and penalties.
Town Code Section 72-9.c states: “If a connection existed as of June 30, 2007, and the house or building has since been demolished, the owner shall continue to be liable for the minimum charges.”
Eyre Baldwin of South Port Investors asked Town Council to waive the utility charges given that the land had been vacant all those years. But Mayor Dora Sullivan expressed concern that doing so would set an expensive precedent: Many other Town properties also have the water turned off but continue to be billed.
And in addition to vacant buildings, Public Works Director Dave Fauber estimates there are about six properties in Town with no buildings that nevertheless receive monthly utility bills. [Read more…]
LETTER: Holiday Cheer Trumps Grand Illumination Chill
GRAND ILLUMINATION — Chris Glennon shot this photo of the Gazebo with just the right touch of ice on the ‘cicles.
December 9, 2013
DEAR EDITOR,
Citizens for Central Park would like to thank all the people who braved the cold wind on Saturday evening to attend the Grand Illumination of Central Park! It was the culminating event in a day filled with holiday cheer!
There are so many different people and groups who had a hand in making the day a success. Many thanks to the numerous volunteers who worked all day to get the luminaries prepared and ready for the event. Special thanks go to the Northampton County Chamber of Commerce and Jim Weiner for their invaluable assistance, Jeb Brady for the use of his trailer, and Wako Chemicals for allowing us to use their space to prepare and store the luminaries.
Thanks also go to the Town staff who kindly worked with us to decorate the park for the holiday season and to many citizens such as Ned Brinkley, Heather Gladden, Zach Hunter, and others who helped us keep the luminaries lit in the windy weather. We are also very grateful to the Cape Charles Business Association for providing hot cocoa for guests, the children from Cape Charles Christian School for their joyful song, and Angie Pheiffer for transporting Santa and Mrs. Claus from their sleigh to the Park to greet the children.
We hope you had the opportunity to visit the Cape Charles Museum’ s antique toy display, Santa’s House at the Cape Charles Christian School, the boat tours and the lighted boat parade sponsored by the Cape Charles Yacht Club, and the lighted golf cart parade organized by Sandy Mayer. We appreciate the willingness of all of these groups to work together to create a magical day in our beloved town.
I do hope the Cape Charles Community Band will accept my apologies for the shortening of their concert in Central Park. As you may be able to imagine, coordinating the flow of events from one venue to another can be difficult. It was out of concern for our littlest guests that we moved the Grand Illumination ceremony along more quickly than planned. The wind was cold and we wanted to be sure that the children had the opportunity to visit with Santa. [Read more…]
COMMENTARY: I Remember Nelson Mandela
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
December 7, 2013
Rarely is anything printed in the Wave that does not relate directly to the Eastern Shore. But the passing of Nelson Mandela compels me to write about what he meant to me. I offer this commentary to those who may be interested, while recognizing that it is not for everyone.
Among the early accounts of Mandela’s death December 5 at age 95 was a striking quote from, of all people, Arnold Schwarzenegger. He said: “President Mandela’s life is the closest thing we have to proof of God.” I would call that an overstatement, but I agree with the sentiment that Mandela, at least within the group of people we label politicians, was heads and shoulders above all the others. Mandela was a modern statesman in a time when the word seems obsolete.
Somewhere in my old collection of VHS tapes I have the Sunday morning recording I made of Mandela’s release from prison February 11, 1990, after 27 years of confinement. At the time I was training for my upcoming assignment to South Africa as a political aide to the U.S. ambassador.
I arrived in South Africa in June, just four months after Mandela’s release from prison. The country was in a state of hypertension, with all races fearful that a civil war would shortly erupt. For more than a decade, the conventional wisdom had been that war was inevitable.
This was where Mandela showed his genius for toughness encased in humility. During the negotiations between his African National Congress and the white ruling government, his eloquence, humility, intellect, determination, and yes – sense of humor – eroded the white power structure’s long-held conviction that a black president would run their nation into the ground, just as they had seen happen in Zimbabwe and elsewhere. [Read more…]
