The Shadow
Dear Editor,
I hope you and your families will stay well during this very trying time.
I am writing to echo some concerns brought up in a letter from Mr. Henry Dickerson to the editor of the Virginian Review a few weeks ago.
His letter was written before the full extent of the Coronavirus pandemic and its economic damage was envisioned, and before the appearance of positive cases of COVID-19 on our doorstep — but his points are well taken.
I know that the members of the town council are doing all they can to confront this crisis, and the steps they have taken are appreciated, but the logistics and knowledge required to deal with the continuing medical, social and economic decisions would be overwhelming, even for those with years of experience who have dealt with previous crises in their localities.
We don’t yet know the full price we will pay due to loss of lives or livelihoods, but measures aimed at preventing the spread of the virus (social distancing, masks, restriction of activities, loss of face-to-face contact with — or even saying a final goodbye to — friends and loved ones), are already taking their emotional toll.
And as in all other places dealing with this disaster, those in our town already suffering due to underlying illness, poverty and lack of resources and food, are the most vulnerable.
After years of struggle to come back from the loss of the railroad, jobs and families, Clifton Forge has finally revived: new businesses and restaurants, bustling streets, new potential as an outdoor town, the resurrection of venues like the Historic Masonic Theatre and many new residents bringing a vision of hope and liveliness back to our town.
There was a host of people and volunteers all sharing responsibility for the comeback, but our town manager, Darlene Burcham, was central in bringing it all together, due to her years of experience, knowledge of grants and fundraising, and the contacts she had made in previous jobs.
All that has been accomplished is now threatened. Will the town of Clifton Forge survive?
We all hope that the promised federal and state money will be enough to let businesses that closed reopen, and keep the now-unemployed going until their jobs are restored. But will the money be in time? And who will administer it, and who will engineer our new “comeback”?
As it stands, Darlene Burcham is fulfilling the remaining months of her contract, advising the council, and presumably using her considerable skills in helping to deal with the crisis facing our town.
The members of the Clifton Forge Town Council have decided not to renew her contract past June, 2020 and are actively trying to replace her, offering to pay an amount not much lower than the salary she was working for.
It seems unlikely at this point that the Coronavirus pandemic will “end” before June.
And there is much discussion that COVID-19 could make a second go-round in the fall.
I add my appeal to Mr. Dickerson’s: Please consider extending Darlene Burcham’s contract for one more year, buying us time to recover with an experienced and knowledgeable town manager.
In meetings I’ve attended, the town council appeared to value her guidance. I wonder if they want to be responsible (along with a new town manager who doesn’t know Clifton Forge and is training on-the-job in the middle of a crisis) for the fate of Clifton Forge.
Or will they put aside any personal issues some members may have with the current town manager and think of their duty to the people of the “Little Town that Could?”
I hope they will bear in mind that there is only one town manager in the world who has experience in raising Clifton Forge from the dead.
Sincerely,
Carol Almarez
Clifton Street, Clifton Forge
