Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 24, 1993 TAG: 9311240130
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Haskell had asked two weeks ago for the resignations of Roger Buyrn of the Eastern Shore and Thomas Cash of Tazewell County. Gerald Spates of Farmville, a third board member who attended the hot-tub gathering, resigned earlier.
Spates said he was not asked to resign, however, and attributed his departure to wanting to devote more time to his job as Farmville town manager.
The hot-tub incident occurred during a three-day meeting of the board in Virginia Beach in August. In addition to the three board members, the gathering included four department employees: two men and two women.
Larry Hart, the agency's acting director, would not disclose the employees' identities but said they remain in their jobs.
The three board members said they went to the hotel's tub and swimming pool at midnight after a dinner with other agency personnel and board members. But they said nothing happened that would warrant their removal.
The pressure for them to step down built as word of the gathering circulated, including a rumor that partial nudity was involved. The three said they were not nude.
Buyrn and Cash said Haskell told them they should resign because of the appearance of impropriety. "It was a basic ultimatum," Buyrn said.
Haskell would not comment on the resignations, which have left five vacancies on the 11-member board. It was not clear whether Gov. Douglas Wilder would appoint replacements before Gov.-elect George Allen takes office in January.
The agency also is seeking a permanent executive director. Former Director Bud Bristow resigned Oct. 16 over differences with the board that are believed unrelated to the hot-tub matter.
by CNB