New Crozet Library Opens

Published by Waldo Jaquith on September 5, 2013 in Education and Government. Closed

It actually happened—the new library really, finally opened in Crozet yesterday, Aaron Richardson writes for the Progress. Planned since I was a kid, the $5.8M new building is ten times larger than the old one. They’ve only got half of the books they intend to have ($900k in donations will help to buy another 35,000), they still need more shelves, and the elevator isn’t even finished being installed, but things will be in good shape for the grand opening, later this month.

Unfortunately, the county still isn’t funding fully the staffing of its Jefferson Madison Regional Library branches. This beautiful new building is only open for rather limited hours: 1–9 on Monday and Tuesday, 9–5 on Wednesday through Saturday, and they’re closed entirely on Sundays.

BOS Again Votes Down Civil Rights Resolutions

Published by Waldo Jaquith on September 5, 2013 in Politics. 1 Comment

The Albemarle Board of Supervisors refused to pass a resolution recognizing Sept. 14 as Pride Festival Day, J. Reynolds Hutchins reports for the Progress, intended to coincide with the annual gay rights festival held in Charlottesville. It failed in a 3–3 vote, with Ken Boyd, Rodney Thomas, and Petie Craddock voting against it. Board members told the Progress that they didn’t vote against it because they’re against the event or even against gay rights, but rather they’re against issuing proclamations in support of every little thing, and they’re simply drawing a line. This comes on the heels of the BOS likewise refusing to recognize Women’s Equality Day last month, and last October refusing to vote in support of the General Assembly ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment, which has been reliably passed by the board for years.

Here is a list of some the things that the Board of Supervisors has publicly recognized in the past five months, via proclamations, resolutions, and certificates of appreciation, all of which passed without debate:

  • Alan Collier for service on the Equalization Board
  • David Cooke for service on the Equalization Board
  • Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and April 21, 2013, as
    “Power Talk 21 Day”
  • Monticello District Boy Scouts of America
  • May 2013 as Fair Housing Month
  • FTC Robotics Team #5903–”Defying Gravity”
  • Paul Wright for service on the Architectural Review Board
  • May 5-11, 2013 as Municipal Clerks Week
  • May 6-10, 2013 as Public Service Recognition Week
  • Business Appreciation Week 2013, specifically recognizing Susan Stimart, Barbara Kessler (Piedmont Workforce Network), Elizabeth Bouldin-Clopton (Workforce Center Manager), Clay Wimberlery (Wimberley
    Photography), Kelly Louk (ibid), and Daniel Flippin (Heritage Inn)
  • Albemarle County Police Department, for their support of the National Guard and the National Reserve

These are item number six on the template for the report issued by county staff after each meeting: “Recognitions.” That is, these recognitions occur so frequently that it’s noted when there aren’t any (“there were none”).

Boyd and Thomas apparently regard their newfound opposition to resolutions as an utter coincidence, having nothing at all to do with their positions on civil rights. Municipal Clerks Week and Paul Wright were weighty matters, but gay rights and women’s rights? Just too trivial. (Apologies to municipal clerks and Paul.)

UVA Dropping Spouses from Health Insurance

Published by Waldo Jaquith on August 22, 2013 in UVa. 23 Comments Tags: .

The University of Virginia will no longer offer health insurance to spouses of employees who can otherwise get coverage through their employer, Derek Quizon reports for the Daily Progress. Citing rising healthcare costs, the university will only continue to offer coverage to spouses who don’t have a job that provides them with insurance that meets a minimum federal standard. The planned change sparked angry discussion in offices, break rooms, and mailing lists across the university today.

Other changes are coming, too, as documented on the university’s website about the benefits changes. Premiums are going up by $480/year unless employees submit to a medical screening, with required tests including weight, height, BMI, and a series of blood screenings. They’re also dropping dental coverage, although they’ll allow employees to buy it back. (08/24 Update: Ricky Patterson points out that dental coverage isn’t being dropped, per se—it’s being broken out as its own thing, and everybody will get a basic plan, capped at $1,000/year in benefits, unless they pay more for an enhanced plan.) The changes take effect on January 1.

Brand-New CHS Principal Resigns

Published by Waldo Jaquith on August 16, 2013 in Education. 2 Comments

Charlottesville High School principal Aaron Bissonnette resigned yesterday after just ten weeks on the job, The Daily Progress reports. He e-mailed school staff yesterday, informing them that he’d be leaving at the end of the day. Bissonnette cited unspecified personal reasons for his abrupt departure. Assistant Principal Jill Dahl is going to serve as interim principal. Students return on Wednesday.

Treasurer Stole $73k from Hollymead HOA

Published by Waldo Jaquith on August 14, 2013 in Crime. 2 Comments

The treasurer of the Hollymead homeowners’ association stole north of $73,000 from them between 2008 and 2012, J. Reynolds Hutchins reports in the Daily Progress. Patricia Anne Cuthbert—not actually a resident of the neighborhood—turned herself into the Hollymead Citizens Association, claiming to have stolen $22,000, and paid back $25,000. An audit this summer revealed that she’d actually taken great deal more, which is presumably what caused them to notify the police, leading to Cuthbert’s arrest. The HOA asked neighborhood residents to keep quiet about it, and the organization has refused to comment to the media, but one resident has gone public.

If this seems familiar, you’re thinking of when the president of Glenmore Country Club went missing, turned out to be dodging an audit of their finances, was turned in by his wife a month later, and wound up being sentenced to a year and a half in prison. The Hollymead situation is, happily, a great deal less colorful.

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