DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
PRSRT. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 27, No. 46 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | March 16, 2011
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Merit raise for county employees requested By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com Citing what she called a “budget reality,” Hanover County’s director of Human Resources requested merit increases for county employees last
Wednesday. In her presentation to the Hanover County Board of Supervisors, Janet Lawson said there had been “no merit increases since July 2008, no benchmarks since July 2008, no new
positions, 22 positions held vacant, positions held through attrition.” Some of those positions have been vacant for more than three years. She has asked the supervisors to consider a 2.25 percent compensa-
tion increase in the Fiscal Year 2012 budget. Looking at neighboring jurisdictions, Lawson said Chesterfield County did not include merit increases in its 2012 budget, but did award a
3 percent bonus in December, while Henrico County’s budget proposes a 2 percent compensation increase, with a 2.372 percent hike for government and schools. see MERIT, pg. 21 `
Search moves into high gear
Rehearsing
Dr. Steve Staples, an associate with BWP consultants, told School Board members that the Hanover job is attracting a good amount of Halfway through the superintendent search interest, largely due to the stellar reputation of the being conducted by BWP & Associates and the county’s school system. Hanover County School Board, it appears there “It is absolutely a pleasure to work with a diswon’t be a shortage of qualified candidates when see SEARCH, pg. 28 ` the interview process begins early in April.
Sue Forbes Watson, left, Faye Prichard and Ann F.H. Gladstone share a light-hearted moment during rehearsals for the Ashland Musical Variety Show, which opens March 24 at Randolph-Macon College. See more on page 5.
By Jim Ridolphi For The Mechanicsville Local
Photo submitted by Faith Boyle
Treasurer intends R-MC to host Majority Leader to seek re-election Hanover County trea- the treasurer’s primary duties surer Scott Miller include the billhas announced his ing and collection intent to seek reof local taxes, the election. management of the He said his county’s extensive office operates in investment portfoconjunction with lio, and the overthe county adminsight of banking istration and Board operations, includof Supervisors ing maintaining to ensure proper MILLER checks and balancfinancial operaes over accounts tions of the county see MILLER, pg. 4 ` are maintained. He also said
Congress. Randolph-Macon Col-lege in Ashland will host U.S. House of Cantor has earned a reputation Representatives Majority Leader as a strategic thinker and resultsEric Cantor at 7:30 p.m. on oriented conservative. The Weekly Monday, March 28, in Blackwell Standard featured him as an Au-ditorium, R-MC’s Center for emerging leader among a group the Performing Arts. of “Young Guns of the House It is free and open to the public GOP.” Congressional Quarterly with a required general admission has described him as “the GOP’s ticket,which can be requested at communicator, rainmaker and www.rmc.edu. CANTOR consensus builder.” Rep. Cantor has represented A former small businessman, Virginia’s 7th District since 2001. Cantor has emerged as a leading conservative In the wake of the 2010 mid-term elections, voice on the economy and job creation. His he was elected by his colleagues in the House to serve as the Majority Leader for the 112th see CANTOR, pg. 8 `
MES 4th grader receives academic excellence honor Ashton Leigh Will, a fourth grader at Mechanicsville Elementary School, was honored by The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Yo u t h (CTY) during a statew i d e awards ceremoWILL ny held see MES, pg. 4 `