THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605030181
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 225 lines
Poor turnout at forum
To all who worked so tirelessly to ``create'' the ``electoral opportunity'' of elected school boards, in the words of the infamous voice from the movie, ``Field of Dreams:'' ``. . . If we `hold' them (school board elections, candidate forums etc.), `they' will come.''
Nah, probably not! In fact, they will stay away in droves.
May I make a suggestion? The next time we have to go through this, can we have these forums in someone's back yard and save the money that was used to light and cool the cavernous Churchland High School auditorium? It would appear to me that that might make a significant contribution toward a budget for vocational education in this city all by itself.
After Monday evening, I can not believe that the citizens of Portsmouth had any major or overwhelming problems with the appointed School Board philosophy. For the most part, we knew exactly where to find these folks when we wanted them. And, if they did something that we did not like, we let them know it as well. They were neither elected nor crazy.
I appreciate the desire to ``open up the electoral process'' to as many as possible but give me a break! However, I must say that had I not attended that forum I would never have known how ``interesting'' a particular candidate's views on ``Goals 2000'' money was. It really boggled my mind how she arrived at those conclusions but that is democracy and the First Amendment at work, isn't it?
In conclusion, this has helped quite a bit in our daily discussions of civics as well as our contemplation about the wisdom of spending huge sums of money on elections. My fear is that there will be quite a few ``unbalanced'' checkbooks at the end of this experiment. Education is never cheap, is it?
Billie M. Cook
Templar Drive
April 27, 1996
Pension system woes
A few short weeks ago, a newspaper article quoted Councilman James C. Hawks' startled response of ``How did this happen?'' to the news from the city's financial and budgetary officials that the now closed Fire and Police Retirement System would require an infusion of around $1.3 million in the coming fiscal year to keep it stable. For the benefit of those city officials with short memories, let's look back and see ``How did this happen?''
Many years ago, fire and police personnel paid a percentage of their salary into the retirement system, matched by the city, to fund it properly and securely and to provide for future improvements within the system. In the early to middle '60s, in lieu of salary increases, the city absorbed all financial support of the system and subsequently all responsibility for the financial adequacy and operation of the system and, henceforth, no finger should be pointed today or veiled allusions made as to ``How did this happen?'' being the fault of fire or police personnel or retirees from those public service departments.
Let's remember that in the middle and late '80s, the City Council in its infinite wisdom saw fit to transfer without repayment huge amounts of money from the retirement system into the General Operating and Capital Improvement budgets. This happened upon a couple of occasions at a cost to the then-stable retirement system reserves in excess of the $1.3 million we're now talking about, not to consider the interest those retirement funds would have drawn since then.
Further, it is my understanding that periodically the actuaries who evaluate the financial stability and operation of the retirement system have on several occasions recommended varying degrees of annual funding into the system by the city when deemed necessary as it is set up to do. However, city officials saw fit to ignore those recommendations although they were certainly the ``red flags'' of fiscal danger.
Regardless of how justified they were - and they were - and how adequately the Fire and Police Retirement System was originally set up many years ago to be able to provide future improvements in retirement benefits had it continued to be operated as intended - which it wasn't - over the last couple of years city officials and City Council moved to effect significant improvements in retirement benefits and incentives for then active fire and police employees. This encouraged a large exodus of those employees, many of whom were relatively young in comparison to past retiree age. Regardless of how justified, this certainly was a significant and long-term cost to the system. To go one step further, the former city manager and deputy city manager were allowed to buy into the grossly improved system and then very quickly retired, benefiting themselves at high pensions and causing long-term accumulative cost to the system.
``How did this happen?'' It sure reminded me of a few days after I have gotten my pension check and I've been borrowing a little bit here and there against it and way ahead of its arrival, periodically scraping off a little bit of money from what I had built up to help pay the bills when they came due, maybe having a small spending spree of buying a few things that I talked myself into, all before sitting down with the bills. Where did the money go? I haven't got enough to pay my bills. How did this happen?
Well, maybe some of the politicians and city officials may also be wondering. I've briefly tried to refresh your memory into ``How did this happen?'' Very simply! It's been happening over a long period of time and now it's a few days after payday and it's time to pay the bill!
Jack R. Lilienthal Sr.
Deputy Fire Chief (retired)
Portsmouth Fire Department
Jury experience positive
I just recently completed a term of jury duty in the Portsmouth Circuit Court and wanted to compliment Judge Johnny Morrison, Sheriff Gary Waters and his staff on their professionalism and concern for the well-being of the jurors.
I also wanted to thank Judge Morrison and his staff for making the experience of serving on jury duty as comfortable and as accommodating as possible.
W.C. Gaskins
Aylwin Road
April 18, 1996
Dog being ignored
As taxpayers and lifetime residents of Portsmouth, my family and I are extremely disappointed in the actions (or non-action) by the city's Animal Control department over the last several weeks. We have reported on several occasions an abandoned dog wandering our Prentis Park neighborhood with a severe case of mange.
The dog is obviously in need of medical attention, food and water, and does not appear to belong to anyone. Our calls to Animal Control have been met with nothing but excuses and empty rhetoric. However, during one call, the employee did not bore us with more excuses - he simply hung up. Everyone wants to refer us to someone else's supervisor, captain, sergeant, etc.
According to one employee, they know exactly the area where the dog has been sighted and described the dog down to the last detail of his missing hair. Although this dog is seen within the same two-block radius on a daily basis, no one in Animal Control can seem to locate him. To make matters more ridiculous, they insist that they need to set a trap for a dog that can barely walk!
I sincerely doubt that this matter would have gone unresolved for so long, with so many excuses, in some other areas of our fair city. With a neighborhood full of school-aged children, residents are fearful that someone may be bitten or infected trying to help the dog.
Calls to the Portsmouth Humane Society were even met with the suggestion of referring the matter to our city manager. I doubt that the city manager should be called in to resolve a problem that others are being paid to handle.
We have exhausted our efforts and see no other course of action except to take the matter to the local television stations or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Perhaps, Animal Control will not listen to the taxpayers who ultimately pay their salaries. However, the media is sometimes just the right tool to light a fire under the bureaucracy.
Allison Baker and family
Evergreen Place
April 23, 1996
Letters were no help
In response to Frank Lindsey's letter to the editor that appeared recently, all 15 members of the Merrifields Garden Club (including myself) wrote letters on behalf of city horticulturist Lauren Gehman - to Mayor Gloria Webb, City Manager Ronald Massie and Director of Leisure Services L. Pettis Patton. It seems they didn't help.
We were shocked and dismayed at Ms. Gehman's rather abrupt dismissal. We have always found her to be thoroughly professional in all aspects of her work.
She has inspired us with gracious and generous sharing of her prolific knowledge of and expertise at our garden club meetings. She was our Martha Stewart.
Losing Lauren Gehman is a great loss to Portsmouth. She was a consummate professional with an impeccable work record. She was an excellent example to her crew.
Merrifields Garden Club members also want to know why Lauren was given such a hasty and thoughtless dismissal.
Bravo to Ida Kay Jordan for having the courage to speak the truth.
Annemarie Pischnotte
Weyanoke Drive
April 17, 1996
Allegations appalling
As a former magistrate of the Portsmouth office, I was appalled and surprised to learn of allegations of racism and alleged padding of logs of the workload.
I was paid a predetermined salary regardless of the amount of workload that we were faced with.
I know from personal experience that many times I was so busy writing warrants, setting bonds, and with several persons waiting to see the magistrate, answering telephones that often times I did not remember to log some of my work, much less attempt to pad it.
Some cities in the Hampton Roads area have an additional magistrate on duty that alleviates considerable stress associated with the workload, especially at peak periods.
I have worked under many supervisors in my life and have never had one more supportive, nor more interested in her employees both in training and personal problems than Mrs. Barrick, the chief magistrate. During my tenure, we had one male and one female Afro-American magistrate. We operated more like a family in our work relations with one another.
Prior to trying to single out individuals for criticism and accusing fellow workers of padding the log books and racism, it may be better if one's energies are expended toward cooperating with all concerned to ensure a smoother operation and less stressful working environment.
I enjoyed the challenges of the position of magistrate and would still be there had it not been for illness in my family.
Andrew Johnston Jr.
Marlboro Road
April 12, 1996
Child care accreditation
Quality child care. . . finding it is a dilemma for most working parents today, with much of the search being based on what ``feels right.'' With over 90,000 licensed child care providers in the country, where do parents even begin to narrow down their choices to the one provider who will provide the best care for their child?
One of the child care industry's best-kept secrets that could help any parents in their search for a quality child care center is accreditation through the National Association of the Education of Young Children. NAEYC implemented a nationally recognized, voluntary accreditation system 10 years ago. Through this system, NAEYC established a set of national standards that requires centers to meet the highest standards for quality on more than 150 criteria. Of the 90,000 child care providers in the country, only five percent have accomplished this significant goal.
While many parents may have heard of NAEYC and may have even heard the term ``accreditation,'' most are not aware of the lengthy and intensive process centers voluntarily undergo to become accredited. Most parents are not aware of how the accreditation process evaluates every aspect of a center's performance including having a well qualified and trained staff; meeting requirements of classroom environment, such as having excellent staff-to-child ratios; developmentally appropriate learning programs; meeting stringent health and safety standards; and providing opportunities for parental involvement, among many others. . . .
Quality centers do exist, and the most important way for parents to find quality care is to first understand what to look for. Accreditation helps parents in locating these quality centers. NAEYC publishes a brochure that describes quality care. A copy may be obtained by calling 1-800-424-2460.
Debbie Crelly
District Manager
Children's World Learning Centers
April 2, 1996 by CNB