Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 27, 1995 TAG: 9506270070
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The directive came from Gov. George Allen, who appointed Fries to the center's board of trustees a year ago.
Betsy Beamer, secretary of the commonwealth, said Monday that Fries was removed because of "allegations of improper conduct" being investigated by the League of Older Americans Area Agency on Aging in Roanoke and the Roanoke Department of Social Services.
Linda Barrett, ombudsman with the LOA agency, said Monday the investigation is not complete.
Despite that, "I believe that from what we could find, all allegations had been substantiated," Beamer said. "I think the governor had time to evaluate them and then make his decision. It was inappropriate behavior for a board member."
The state code permits the removal of board appointees who serve at the pleasure of the governor, Beamer said.
Beamer said she phoned Fries on Friday and offered him an opportunity to resign. Fries refused, "so I informed him that the governor was removing him from the board," Beamer said.
Fries said Monday that he was not surprised by Allen's action. In fact, he said he might have done the same thing himself.
"What else could they do?" he asked. "It was politically expedient for them to do that. It gets me out of their hair temporarily."
Fries said he does not intend to let up on his push for change at the center, located just inside Roanoke at its boundary with Salem on 20 acres adjoining the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He said he has repeatedly told state officials that the "concept" of the center is not good and that it should be under the direction of a state agency instead of the 10-member board of trustees.
The board is the core of the center's operation. It ensures that the center runs according to its contract with Diversified Health Services Inc., a private Memphis, Tenn., company that leases the center from the board.
The 232-resident facility is the only nursing home for veterans in Virginia. It is one of 73 in the United States.
"This thing needs to be placed under a state agency and the board needs to be changed," Fries said. "If they need a board to placate whomever, then they can make an advisory board."
Fries said he has discussed his proposal with several elected officials who support it. He would not say who those elected officials were.
In the 21/2 years it has been opened, the care center has been hit by allegations ranging from bad food to inadequate staffing. The Virginia State Police are investigating allegations of wrongful death.
Fries insists that he has worked hard to address residents' concerns. And he regrets leaving some of those concerns dangling.
Fries said he would have preferred that the governor wait until the investigation was completed before taking any action.
"This is a political decision, probably not made exclusively by him," Fries said. "I don't want to second guess. Personally, I might have done the same thing myself."
Mike Little, Virginia Veterans Care Center administrator, said he couldn't help but think that Fries' removal from the board "will settle things down a bit."
"It's unfortunate that this happened but it will relieve some of the controversy that's been taking place," Little said. Fries "has done a lot of good for the facility. I'm sorry to see that the situation has come to this point."
Board member Steve Goodwin said he expects Fries' removal will have a "positive impact."
by CNB