Inside A7 New Virginia congressional map redraws 4th District
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Powhatan’s Livermon breaks RMC record
Vol. XXIX No. 2
January 13, 2016
Constitutional officers stand against board By Laura McFarland News Editor
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OWHATAN – Powhatan County’s five constitutional officers presented a united front against a resolution regarding memorandums of understanding being considered by the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors last week, but whether their stance will be enough to change the board members’ minds is yet to be determined. The five constitutional officers and one citizen spoke during the public comment period of the supervisors’ meeting on Monday, Jan. 4, all expressing their desire for the board to vote against a resolution asking the constitutional officers to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the county. Those who spoke were Richard “Dickie” Cox, commonwealth’s attorney; Faye Barton, treasurer; Brad Nunnally, sheriff; Jamie Timberlake II, commissioner of the revenue, and Te-
resa Hash Dobbins, clerk of the Powhatan County Circuit Court. Jason Gillespie of Powhatan, a private citizen, also spoke. The resolution states the officers COX would work with Pat Weiler, county administrator, to finalize an agreement regarding their respective offices that is “substantially similar” to a draft provided in the meeting’s board packet. By signing the MOU the constitutional officers would be agreeing the county’s employee handbook covers their employees and deputies, “thereby establishing a uniform personnel system.” This would guarantee the constitutional officers’ employees “will have the same rights and benefits, and will be subject to the same procedures and regulations as other County employees,” unless otherwise noted.
When the resolution came up for consideration, the board unanimously voted to defer the issue to allow them to meet with the constitutional officers as a group and discuss the issues both sides feel need to be addressed. The board set a special workshop at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20 in the Village building to meet with the constitutional officers. The meeting will be open to the public, but the board may go into closed session if the meeting touches on issues such as salaries. The workshop will be held before a joint meeting with the Powhatan County School Board at 7 p.m. Depending on how the meeting goes, the resolution may come up for a vote again at the board’s meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 25. Understanding the MOU The board packet included a draft agreement of an MOU that says it is substantially similar to those the constitutional officers would be asked to
sign. The MOU says employees of the constitutional officers, but not the officers themselves, would be covered by the county’s employee handbook and DOBBINS therefore its personnel policies and regulations. This excludes the grievance procedure and advertising of position vacancies, which have to be consistent with Virginia Code. The MOU states it cannot be interpreted to infringe upon the authority of the constitutional officers to control the operations of their offices, including, without limitation, the authority to direct their employees’ work; hire, promote, transfer, or appoint employees, and discipline, suspend, demote, dismiss, or terminate the appointment of any employee. see BOARD page 2A
Melton elected chairman By Laura McFarland
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
Williams, District 1, Angie Cabell, District 3, and Carson Tucker, District News Editor 5. POWHATAN – Bill Melton was The elections were held at the start elected chairman of the Powof the meeting, beginning hatan County Board of Suwith the chairman. pervisors for his second Melton is entering his straight year at the board’s fifth year on the board of sumeeting last week. pervisors after being newly Melton, who represents re-elected in November District 4, was approved 2015. He was elected as unanimously by his fellow chairman in January 2015 board members in a vote takand served as vice chairman en at the board’s first 2016 in his first year in office. MELTON meeting, which was held on He served 12 years before Monday, Jan. 5. Melton abthat on the Powhatan County stained from the vote. Planning Commission and has lived in Larry Nordvig, District 2, also ab- the county for 20 years. stained when his fellow board memAfter the meeting, Melton said it bers unanimously voted him in as the was humbling to have the confidence vice chairman for the coming year. see MELTON page 7A The board also consists of David
PHOTO COURTESY OF CARLA NELMS
After an unseasonably warm holiday season, Powhatan County got hit with a cold front last week that included the first snow of the season on Monday, Jan. 4. Carla Nelms snapped this photo of a neighbor’s house during a brief but heavy period of snowfall. She said after not having any snow so far this winter, the intensity of it was amazing. “I couldn’t believe how much snow was coming down out of nowhere,” she said.
Republicans pursue election lawsuit By Laura McFarland News Editor
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
FIRST SN W
POWHATAN – A challenge to state election law that originated in Powhatan County was back in front of a federal court judge last week. U. S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck presided over a hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 7 that saw the Powhatan County Republican Committee and four men who ran as Republican candidates for the Powhatan County
Board of Supervisors in the fall suing the Virginia State Board of Elections. The lawsuit challenges a state code the plaintiffs say unconstitutionally prevents the political party affiliation of local candidates from being included on official ballots next to candidates’ names. Va. Code § 24.2-613 requires party affiliations be listed “for elections for federal, statewide, and General Assembly offices only.” The Jan. 7 proceedings saw Pat Mc-
Sweeney, chairman of the Powhatan Republican Committee, acting as the lawyer for the plaintiffs and Joshua Heslinga, assistant attorney general, representing the defendants, the board of elections. The plaintiffs in the case are Robert G. “Bob” Marcellus, who ran for the District 2 supervisor seat; David T. Williams, District 1; Barry Hodge, District 3; and Timothy L. “Tim” Gresham, see LAWSUIT page 5A
Former State Senate candidate arrested in Henrico By Laura McFarland
Loser ran as a Libertarian for the 10th District Senate in the November 2015 general election. He finished fourth of POWHATAN – A Powhatan man who four candidates in a race won by Republiunsuccessfully ran for the can Glen H. Sturtevant Jr. 10th District seat in the At 9:47 p.m. Friday, Jan. State Senate last year was 1, Henrico police stopped a arrested on New Year’s Day vehicle at the intersection of in Henrico County. Havenwood Drive and LauThe Henrico County derdale Drive for speeding, Police Division charged Eley said. According to the Carl Richard Loser, 25, of police report, the vehicle Powhatan with assault on was traveling 47 mph in a law enforcement, which is 35 mph zone. a Class 6 felony, and speedThe officer attempted to ing, Lt. Chris Eley, public explain and issue the sumLOSER information officer for the mons for speeding while the division, said. The charge is driver, identified as Loser, dethe lowest level of a felony. bated the summons, Eley said. Loser said on Tuesday, Jan. 5 that he “This traffic stop lasted about 40 minwas innocent and that the body camera utes for a speeding ticket because he was worn by the officer should be checked. debating the ticket on the side of the road,” He said he is seeking an attorney and Eley said, adding that is much longer than couldn’t speak further on the incident. usual for a speeding ticket. News Editor
The officer was attempting to get Loser’s signature on the summons and told Loser not to roll up the window because his hand was there, Eley said. Loser continued to roll up his window before signing the summons, closing it on the officer’s hand. Eley said the officer’s thumb was caught in the window but he was not injured. Loser was taken into custody and charged with assault on law enforcement and speeding. Online court records show Loser was arraigned in Henrico County on Jan. 5 and given a date to have an attorney by Jan. 21. Under Virginia law, if convicted of assaulting a law enforcement officer, the charge carries a mandatory minimum of six months in jail. Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com.