Cape Charles Rotary Partners with Boys and Girls Club
Cape Charles Rotary Club members join with Boys and Girls Club participants.
April 13, 2015
Cape Charles Rotary sponsored a Career Day at Occohannock Elementary School March 28 to provide area teens with a jumpstart on successful careers. The event was part of a new partnership between the Rotary Club of Cape Charles and the Eastern Shore Boys and Girls Club.
A team of Cape Charles Rotarians facilitated five Career Day workshops for almost 50 Boys and Girls Clubs teenagers from the Eastern Shore and across the Hampton Roads area. In round-robin fashion, the young adults attended workshops structured to begin preparing them for college and workplace realities: Resume-Writing, College-Bound, Interviewing Skills, Dress for Success and Workplace Etiquette.
The partnership with the Boys and Girls Club is an important new initiative of the Cape Charles Rotary Club, which supports the community through a variety of additional grants and service projects. Monika Bridgforth, Cape Charles Rotary President-Elect and Career Day project coordinator explains, “The Rotarians were eager to share lessons learned from our own careers. From practical tips about how to dress for an interview to more thought-provoking discussions about the value of a college education, the students had a comprehensive introduction to career planning. And we are already refining for next year!” [Read more…]
County Proposes Higher Taxes, Less Money for Schools
County school employees and students demonstrate at March 31 Northampton budget hearing. (Wave photo)
By WAYNE CREED
Cape Charles Wave
April 6, 2015
There was standing room only March 31 at the public hearing on the Northampton County proposed budget. As a show of support, students, teachers, and administrators from the county schools were on hand, wearing Kiptopeke t-shirts and holding signs that read “Put Kids First.”
Due to the resignation of Financial Director Leslie Lewis, County Administrator Katie Nunez had the marginally unpleasant task of presenting the proposed $41.1 million budget, including the tax increases it requires. The real estate tax rate would rise from 67 to 70 cents per $100 assessed value. Personal property taxes could increase from $3.85 to $3.90 per hundred dollars.
Many folks were on hand to show support for a more robust school budget, which as proposed is almost 1 percent less than last year. Nunez noted that the county is only required to contribute $5,339,712 to the school budget (the remainder comes from the state), yet it actually funds schools $8,339,472. There was a spike in FY2009, where county contributions were over $9 million, but since have leveled off to around the $8 million figure.
During public comments, Occohannock math teacher and president of the county teachers union, Justin Wheeler, asked the Board of Supervisors, “Look around. Why do you think all these students and teachers have come out tonight? Because we care. Because it’s about the safety of our schools, about the future of Northampton County — we are the face of the county; it is time to put kids first. Why must we come before you and beg for raises? I’m asking you to fully fund our schools. You must ask yourselves, what side of history do you want to be on?”
School Board member JoAnn Molera of Franktown asked the Board of Supervisors to think outside the box and be more conceptually forward regarding the role of schools in the county. “Luckily, people from Washington DC have not found out about Northampton County, but even as we want to see our population grow, it is our schools — we can use our schools to attract the kind of people we want to move here.” Given the nature of Northampton, “we can educate our children in a unique way, to use our schools as a way to draw people here. Outstanding schools will make people want to move here. We [Supervisors and the School Board] need to limit the friction, to be more collaborative, and work together to make our schools better . . . Give the kids an education that makes them want to be long-term learners. They will be people who can pay taxes and who will want to [stay in Northampton] to send their kids to our schools,” and not wind up in our jails, Molera stressed.
Cathleen Buyrn of Cheriton followed that train of thought: “There is no more important asset than the people that work in our schools. I will not support a tax increase for more jails or a courthouse, but I will support a tax increase for our schools. It is the right thing to do. It is our turn, our kids’ turn — it is time to address new schools, and a raise for our teachers,” she said, adding that due to low salaries, some teachers’ children “qualify for free and/or reduced lunch programs.” [Read more…]
Strong Pushback Against June Property Tax Bills
April 6, 2015
EDITOR’S NOTE: In the following excerpts from a letter to Northampton County Supervisors, Exmore resident R.H. “Bob” Meyers documents numerous problems with the county’s decision to begin billing twice annually for property tax. The first installment will be due June 5, with a 10 percent penalty for taxpayers who miss the deadline. Meyers shares his conversations with County Treasurer Cindy Bradford and County Commissioner of the Revenue Anne Sayers, both of whom cited problems with the new tax billing system and said they wished it would be repealed. Meyers advocates an immediate resolution doing just that.
TO: Northampton County Board of Supervisors
FROM: R.H. Meyers
SUBJECT: Mid-year Tax Billing
After talking to the County Treasurer, Cindy Bradford, and the Commissioner of Revenue, Anne Sayers, on April 3, several facts are clear relating to the currently scheduled mid-year tax billing:
COST
BRADFORD: The twice a year billing will cost the citizens $20,000.
SAYERS: Actually twice-a-year billing results in three separate billings. The first and last billings have to be of equal amounts. This in itself knocks us back about 20 years when new construction was done as a separate billing. We worked hard to get the new construction done and in the system in time for the December 5th billing; the purpose was eliminating the cost in the supplemental billing.
PENALTIES
BRADFORD: A non or underpayment in June will incur an immediate 10% penalty + interest on the unpaid balance.
SAYERS: True statement
ESCROW
BRADFORD: The potential June billing has created computational problems for many mortgage companies and generated thousands of irate phone calls to the Treasurer’s office from citizen mortgage holders who are required to escrow their tax payments monthly.
SAYERS: True statement not only for the Treasurer but we have gotten, and are still getting, many phone calls.
WORKLOAD
BRADFORD: The work required to do a mid-year billing creates an unnecessary workload for the Treasurer’s office for which they are not staffed.
SAYERS: The early billing also gives this office less time to get all the changes in ownership, etc., in the system. [Read more…]
REPORT: Fertilizer and Manure Are Polluting the Bay
By WAYNE CREED
Cape Charles Wave
April 6, 2014
According to a new report released by the U.S. Geological Survey, an excess of fertilizer and manure being used on Eastern Shore farms is excessively polluting rivers, streams and tributaries that flow into the Bay. The report, “Understanding Nutrients in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and Implications for Management and Restoration – The Eastern Shore,” is based on research and data which looks at the Eastern Shore, which is responsible for nearly twice as much nitrogen and phosphorus per square mile of land area as other parts of the watershed. The report indicates that most of the excess nutrients come from agricultural production of crops and livestock, which use inorganic fertilizers or manure.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established the landmark Chesapeake Bay “pollution diet” in 2013 to restore clean water in the region’s streams, creeks, and rivers. Formally known as the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), the pollution diet identifies the necessary reductions of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment from Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Key components are committing to more stringent nitrogen and phosphorus limits at wastewater treatment plants, dramatically increasing enforcement and compliance of state requirements for agriculture, and committing state funding to develop and implement state-of-the-art-technologies for converting animal manure to energy for farms.
Despite the federally imposed “Bay Pollution Diet,” the bay continues to be damaged by excessive nutrients, mostly nitrogen and phosphorus, which deplete the bay of oxygen needed for fish, crabs, and oysters, disturbs the habitat of underwater plants crucial for aquatic life and waterfowl, and causes harmful algal blooms and decreased water clarity, submerged aquatic vegetation, and dissolved oxygen.
“On the Eastern Shore, the concentrations of nitrogen in groundwater, and nitrogen and phosphorus in surface waters, are well above natural levels and are among the highest in the nation,” said co-author Scott Ator. “We are also seeing worsening nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the Choptank River, which is the largest river on the Eastern Shore, despite management practices to improve water quality.” [Read more…]
County Planning Commission Hears Discouraging Data
By WAYNE CREED
Cape Charles Wave
March 30, 2015
The Northampton County Planning Commission met March 25 to continue amending the zoning and land use map. Commissioners Mike Ward provided statistical handouts including the following:
· Population decreased 7.39% in the years 2000-2014;
· Jobs declined 20.7% in the period 1999-2014;
· Property values declined 20.26% between 2009-14;
· Median Household income declined 7.44% between 2010-2014;
· Poverty rate increased to 24.3% in 2013, up 6.3% from 2007; and
· Economic Development plummeted in recent years.
· Northampton commercial establishments that closed in recent years include Roses, LeCato, A&N Clothing, Bank of America in Cape Charles, Sun Trust Bank in Nassawadox, KFC, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, and Burger King and Fresh Pride in Exmore. Rural Health moved from Nasswadox to Onancock, and Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital is doing the same.
Ward also noted that Shore Memorial Hospital’s impending move will create health, safety, and public welfare challenges. Similar challenges also face economic development endeavors, and poor school performance and low teacher salaries serve as a disincentive to attract “quality personnel.”
Residents may want to prepare for an increase in taxes, he said, as there will be fiscal pressures due to the need in part to “replace aging equipment and maintain existing facilities, together with salaries”.
When the Planning Commission meets April 7, on the agenda are three Special Use Permits, a single wide mobile home request, a Conference Retreat Center for Mimosa Farms, and a proposal to open a raw bar/bistro in the 1,000 square-foot Harvey building on the waterfront in Oyster. [Read more…]
Council Appoints Brent Manuel Town Manager, Commends Heroes for Icy Rescue
By WAYNE CREED
Cape Charles Wave
March 23, 2015
Cape Charles Town Council met March 19 at the Civic Center, and Mayor George Proto began by announcing that the Town has appointed Brent T. Manuel of Woodstock, Virginia, as the new Town Manager. The appointment is effective April 6.
Hardly a newcomer to local government, Manuel has over 16 years of experience, having served the towns of Purcellville, Strasburg, and Woodstock and the county of Frederick. For the past 13 years Manuel was Woodstock’s Assistant Town Manager of Operations and Director of the Department of Planning and Community Development.
“While I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Northern Shenandoah Valley, I am very enthusiastic about the opportunity that awaits in the beautiful town of Cape Charles,” Manuel says.
Mayor Proto stated, “The Town Council and I look forward to his beginning, his tenure, and the contributions I believe he will make to the town.”
Councilman Frank Wendell added, “We are very excited to have him here, and the fact that he chose to live in town is a very good sign.”
Although the decision to hire Manuel was made a few weeks ago, the process had been stalled due to his difficulty finding rental housing within the town limits. But with that problem resolved, Manuel begins work in two weeks.
Mayor Proto issued Commendations to Officer Tom Potts, Sergeant Jay Bell, and Keith Lewis for a dramatic rescue at the Town Harbor on the night of March 5. About 7:45 p.m., Lewis saw a man fall off the icy dock into the frigid water. He immediately dialed 911, alerted authorities, and attempted to assist the victim. Officer Tom Potts soon arrived, and he and Lewis crawled out on the ice, where Potts worked to keep the man above water. A few moments later, Sergeant Jay Bell arrived and joined the effort. The team pulled the victim out of the water and dragged him across the ice and up to the dock where an ambulance was waiting to transport him to the hospital. The victim has made a full recovery. [Read more…]
Rezoning ‘Information Session’ Turns into Showdown
Supervisor Larry Trala faces up to two of Northampton County’s most determined rezoning opponents: Bob Meyers (from back) and Ken Dufty (right). (Wave photo)
By WAYNE CREED
Cape Charles Wave
March 23, 2015
After several delays, the winter weather finally relented and allowed Northampton County to conduct two Public Information Sessions for the county’s proposed zoning ordinance. Although the event was sparsely populated, those in attendance were eager to hear or see just what was in store, and if it differed in any way from what had already been gleaned from Economic Developer Charles McSwain’s Information Paper.
The first session, at Kiptopeke Elementary, kicked off with an overview of what the county considered the most significant and impactful changes, such as shore widths, allowable uses, the continued incorporation of the Bay Act throughout the county, and the inclusion of mobile homes in the plan. County Long Range Planner Peter Stith emphasized that this effort was meant to be a way to streamline the process, make definitions more clear, and simplify the overall zoning, such as by reducing the number of districts from 21 to 15.
The room had stations set up on the perimeters, with county staff available to answer questions. Mr. Stith and the Geographic Information System Department also provided several large wall maps showing just what the physical changes are going to look like in a very holistic manner. Each station was loaded with a fairly robust level of information, and county staff was pleasant and eager to answer questions. Among those attending were Cape Charles Town Council members Chris Bannon and Joan Natali.
While the mood of the general public was initially buoyant, news that public comments would be limited to “written only” comments sucked a good bit of the air out of the event. As the public milled about, and somewhat hushed conversations echoed off the cinder block walls of the auditorium, the room began to take on the sad feel of a job fair intended for recently released inmates from the county jail rather than an exciting question and answer session.
Night two at Occohonock Elementary, however, had an entirely different feel. The format was the same, but after Planner Stith finished his introduction and was on his way to one of the tables, he was bushwhacked by Dr. Art Schwarzschild of Willis Wharf. “Peter, I have a question. There is such a big difference between the first proposal and the current one, and the difference is not well highlighted. We at Willis Wharf and Oyster, we spent a lot of time, two years, picking all the things we wanted in our villages — why did we change this for something new that was developed behind closed doors?” he asked. [Read more…]
Supervisors Nix Kiptopeke Villas Restaurant Permit
By WAYNE CREED
Cape Charles Wave
March 16, 2015
On a very warm evening with a hint of spring showers in the air, the Northampton County Board of Supervisors met for the March 10 regular meeting. The Kiptopeke Villas project once again made an appearance, this time seeking a second Special Use Permit to construct and operate a 12 table takeout restaurant on county parcel 69. The 2,500 square-foot “greasy spoon”-style eatery would consist of 12 tables and an outside porch area. There would be no drive-thru capability.
During public comments, Charles Bruckner questioned whether the developer had done due diligence in regard to groundwater and aquifer protections, in light of the fact that the site once housed a gas station, and the tanks are presumably still underground. “Do you have any engineering data you can point to? Have you even done a phase one or two environmental impact assessment? My worry is that there was a gas station there. The DEQ may have looked at it, but they are not an investigative agency. They come in after something has happened to help remediate,” Bruckner said.
Terry Ramsey followed with comments about the parking, especially by larger vehicles such as RVs and truck or boat trailers. “This should be safety first. This will change the fundamental character of our neighborhood. It is not an appropriate use” for this area,” he said. Ramsey also urged Supervisors to limit or even ban music played outside and consumption of alcohol on the porch.
Supervisor Granville Hogg voiced concerns about the project to County Planner Peter Stith: “I have concerns with page 3 where it says it will not adversely affect the health of the area. This is zoned Hamlet, I understand that, but do you feel this is an appropriate use?” Hogg asked.
“Are you suggesting it should be zoned residential?” responded Stith. “I don’t know what development [for this area] holds for the future.”
Hogg continued: “Is this mass drain field really appropriate for this area? When we first started this, we were told it was going to be low impact; now it seems to be fairly substantial.” [Read more…]
