back to back champions the colonial beach girls’ basketball team wins conference title. Page 5
T he Volume 39, Number 10
almost here
historic home
Don’t let ol’ man winter get you down — fishing season is close at hand. Page 7
alexander graham bell’s former house is now a thriving business. Page 10 POSTAL CUSTOMER
Colonial Beach • Westmoreland
Wednesday, March 4, 2015 50 Cents
helping you relate to your community
Beach schools unveil $6.9M 2015-16 budget Linda Farneth
Colonial Beach Schools Superintendent Kevin Newman presented the first draft of the propsed 2015-16 budget to the school board during its Feb 24 meeting. Last year, the school requested about $2.5 million but received about $2.1 million from the town, resulting in the need to cut 9.5 positions.
This year, the division is requesting about $2.4 million from the town. If the town gives the school system the same as the previous year,it is called level funding. The town is only obligated to provide about $1,.6 million for next year, but the town has rarely given less than level funding. In the 2015-16 school year proposed budget, the division is
including returning five positions cut last year. The positions are a math coach, a part-time librarian, a parttime custodian, a bus driver and one elective teaching position. Newman said the division has been utilizing computer electives. Board member Michelle Payne said many students who are not self motivated need the instructional guidance from a teacher.
Newman said the current bus schedule has been hard to maintain with the need for another driver. If the budget will allow a new driver, another bus will need to be leased. That lease cost is included in the proposed budget. This preliminary budget is subject to change based on the final state aid amount, which could result in a lower aid request from the town.
Where does the money come from State aid
$3,505,246
Town of Colonial Beach
$2,430,445
Federal aid
$624,989
Food service
$216,419
Other sources
$74,245
State transfer aid
$18,181
Total
$6,869,525
Robin Grove Park sale being mulled County
school board to host hearing
Linda Farneth Rapid erosion of the shoreline at Robin Grove Park has forced the Colonial Beach Town Council to decide whether to proceed with a public hearing to sell the park. Last April, Bill Bowman, owner of the Boat House Marina, wrote to the council stating the erosion at Robin Grove Park on Monroe Bay was having a negative impact on his ability to do business because it hindered boat travel to the marina’s boat lift. Bowman offered to purchase the property for $100,000 and to secure and stabilize the shoreline as soon as permits could be obtained once the property transfer was complete. Town staff have obtained an appraisal for the park of $198,000. The park wraps around another town-owned parcel that contains two drinking water reservoirs. Only one of these reservoirs currently is in use, with the other in need of repair. The town is working to replace both reservoirs with one above-ground enclosed tank. The preservation of the shoreline is crucial to the operation of this water holding facility, town officials said. “Sometime in the near future, we’ve got to make a decision as to whether to invest money into bulk-heading or doing whatever it takes to stop the erosion or to sell it,” said Mayor Mike Ham at a Feb 26 council meeting. Ham said the council needs to have at least six votes to sell the property. Then the matter will go to a public hearing. Councilman Eddie Blunt said the town should get an appraisal of the property with the requested rezoning of the parcel to maritime commercial from residential. Councilman Burkett Lyburn said
Wants public input on its search for a new superintendent Richard Leggitt
Linda Farneth
The Colonial Beach Town Board has been offered $100,000 to sell Robin Grve Park by Bill Bowman, owner of the Boat House Marina. he was concerned that if the property owner puts boats in there for drydock it will obstruct the water view of residents along the street across from the park. Councilman Mike Looney said the
town’s comprehensive plan calls for 35 acres of developed park land and active school sites. When the plan was written, the town had approximately 11.4 acres, or 31 percent of the requirement so he is concerned the
sale of the property will decrease that figure. Councilman Tommy Edwards said he would like to know what Bowman plans to do with the area if purchased and rezoned to maritime
commercial. Based on those concerns, Ham asked Town Manager Val Foulds to invite Bowman to the council’s March 26 meeting to give a brief presentation and answer questions.
Montross council gets revitalization update Linda Farneth The Montross Town Council bid a final farewell to the late David R. O’Dell Jr, and welcomed new member Jesse Ault to the council at its meeting last week. The council then voted Vice Mayor Joey King to become mayor and Terry Cosgrove to take the vice Mmyor position and fill the vacant seat on the planning commission, left by O’Dell, who died in December. After the vote, Robert Zimmerman presented King with a new handmade gavel since the council retired the previous gavel used only by O’Dell. It will be placed on display at town all. Zimmerman crafted the new gavel himself from native materials that, he said, are important to the town of Montross. “The sounding block is made of White Oak and the gavel is made from Black Locust and Naval bronze. Six rings on the gavel represent the supporting member of council
while the gavel is wielded by the new mayor.” Zimmerman said. The council also discussed the recent revitalization being done in town, saying it is nearly complete. All that is left is installing new street lights and crosswalks, they said. The town is waiting for the new street lights to come in and crosswalks will have to wait until after paving is complete on Route 3, they said. The state is scheduled to begin paving in the spring and the crosswalks will be put in at four locations. Three will cross Route 3 - one at the post office, one near the museum and one at the sharp curve in front of Angelo’s Restaurant. The last crosswalk will cross over Polk Street from the museum to Courthouse Square. The crosswalks will be stamped asphalt and will be colored to look like faux brick. The Angelo’s crossing will have flashing lights in each direction to alert motorists to the crossing and help keep speeds down, council members said.
Linda Farneth
Robert Zimmerman left, presents newly appointed Mayor Joey King with a new handmade gavel that Zimmerman made from local wood.
Now you can follow local breaking news daily on our website at www.journalpress.com
The Westmoreland County School Board has rescheduled its twice-delayed public hearing on the search for a new superintendent to March 5. Two previously scheduled hearings were postponed because of inclement weather. A school board announcement said the rescheduled public hearing would be at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria of Washington & Lee High School. The school board is seeking a new superintendent to replace Rebecca Lowry, who resigned in January effective June 30. Lowry has served as the Westmoreland County superintendent since July 2011. “Hiring a new superintendent is the biggest task a school board will face and we want to make sure that the public has a voice in this process,” said school board chairwoman Iris Lane. “We encourage parents, students, staff and residents to attend the public hearing.” The school board has been consulting with Gina Patterson, of the Virginia School Boards Association, in connection with its superintendent search and also has widely distributed a questionnaire to parents, teachers and the taxpayers seeking input on the qualities that are desirable in the person who is chosen to be the new superintendent. The five-member Westmoreland School Board has been widely criticized by county officials and the public during the past year for a number of missteps that have caused controversy within the school system and the Thursday public hearing is an effort to build support prior to the hiring of a new superintendent. Those mistakes include the recent revelation the division has been making late payments to the Virginia State Retirement System and Internal Revenue System.