Ian Hall

CLIFTON FORGE —   Clifton Forge Town Council has no authority over a volunteer committee that oversees the town’s armory.
That’s the opinion of Town Attorney Jered Jenkins, who was asked to review a contract between the town and the armory committee after questions were raised at a Jan. 14 council meeting.
“This armory committee is a private entity. It’s not a public body of any sort,”  Jenkins said Tuesday night during council’s February business meeting at town hall. 
Mayor Jeff Irvine and Councilman Bob Umstead are members of the committee. But Jenkins said they are “serving  in the capacity of private citizens.” 
At council’s January meeting, a citizen suggested that the armory committee be held accountable to taxpayers. 
It was suggested that three members of council — Vice Mayor Pam Marshall, Ron Goings and David Oeltjen — exercise oversight over the armory.
But Jenkins said that since the armory committee isn’t  a public entity, council cannot exercise oversight.
The armory committee, under its contract with the town, has full discretion in managing the facility and funds generated from its utilization. 
He also noted that the committee does not fall under requirements set forth by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
Irvine, who is president of the armory committee, recently handed over information after a citizen filed a request under the FOIA.
“That was above and beyond anything required by law,” Jenkins said.
Nevertheless, Jenkins did  request that the committee file regular reports with the town and a form has been created for submitting financial information.
“We set out clearly what we expect from the armory committee,” Jenkins said.
He also recommended other safeguards to the committee, including shredding an ATM card carried by Irvine and filing audit reports from 2018 and 2019.
Irvine said the audits will be filed by May. 
Joan Vannorsdall, who serves as the Clifton Forge East District representative on the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors, told Irvine that the county also intends to hold the armory committee accountable.
The county, she said, provides funding each year to the armory committee. This year, detailed information must be submitted to a county budget committee before the armory committee’s funding request will be  considered, she said.
Irvine and two other council members are continuing to draw criticism over a December decision not to extend the employment contract of Town Manager Darlene Burcham.
Burcham’s contract expires in June. She told council in December that she does not desire to have the contract extended because she does not have the full support of council.
Three council members — Irvine, Marshall and Umstead, indicated they are not in favor of extending the contract.
Tuesday night, Irvine was criticized for an interview he granted to a Roanoke television station in December. The interview came after the public was informed of Burcham’s decision.
In the interview, Irvine stated that a majority of Clifton Forge citizens desired a change in the town manager’s office.
According to a transcript of the interview, Irvine said: “The majority of citizens want a change in direction of the town manager, with a new environment for all. We as council members, after much discussion, have decided to take the town in that direction.” 
Resident Sara Zeek called Irvine’s statement to the TV station “inaccurate.”
She said Irvine had no factual basis to support his statement. She said his remarks, which were broadcast through the television station’s viewing area, did not cast a positive image for the town. 
“Think about how you are representing the town,” Zeek said to Irvine. “I?just caution you tonight to think about what you say.”
Council has begun searching for Burcham’s replacement and “five or six” candidates have submitted resumes, Councilman Goings said.
Nonetheless, the salary range set for Burcham’s replacement is falling under public scrutiny.
Town resident Karen Buzzard noted that after three council members stated that Burcham’s salary was a major factor in deciding not to keep her, the salary for Burcham’s successor was advertised at a level just below what she earns.
Burcham is paid $109, 171. The salary range for her replacement has been set from $90,000 to $105,000.
“In the newspaper, the pay scale was just about the same as Ms. Burcham gets and I?wish you would reconsider keeping her,” Buzzard said.
Goings said he is still hoping that the town will somehow retain Burcham.
“I appreciate everything you have done and I do hope we can work something out,” Goings said to Burcham.
Citizens who support Burcham have created a Facebook page titled “Clifton Forge: Just the Facts.”
“‘Just the Facts’ provides answers to many questions people need to know about our town,” said resident Phyllis Owens.
To raise awareness of the Facebook page, Burcham’s supporters handed out flyers to residents as they filed into Tuesday night’s council meeting, along with “I Love  Clifton Forge” buttons.
After hearing questions and criticism from the public at Tuesday’s meeting, Umstead reminded the audience that serving in local government is not an easy job.
“I don’t think a large number of you would want to sit up here and do this,” he said.