CLIFTON FORGE – The four candidates for Clifton Forge Town Council in the November election don’t agree with the plan to create a consolidated city through the merger of the Alleghany County and Covington governments.
Candidates Jimmie Houff, Don Carter, Carl Brinkley and Gayle Hillert participated in a forum Wednesday night at The Masonic Theatre in Clifton Forge. The forum was sponsored by the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce.
Houff and Carter are running as incumbents. A fifth candidate that will be listed on the Nov. 2 ballot, Nellie Friel, withdrew from the race earlier this week, citing health reasons. Friel is the current vice mayor.
Houff, Carter, Brinkley and Hillert all said that county government would be better suited for Alleghany County and Covington if they merge into one government.
A proposal that could go before Covington and Alleghany County voters as early as November 2011 calls for the creation of a consolidated city called Alleghany Highlands.
The consolidation proposal was put together by a committee of citizens from the county and city. Clifton Forge would become a township in the consolidated city.
“In the sparsely-populated area we live in here, there is no reason to have a city form of government,” Brinkley said.
Hillert said she supports the idea of consolidating the county and city governments, but feels a county government would more greatly benefit Clifton Forge.
But she said, “I think we need to learn a lot more” about the plan and added that “Clifton Forge needs to have a strong voice in whatever is decided.”
Houff voiced similar sentiments, saying: “When it comes to consolidation, I favor a county over a city. There are a lot of questions that need to be answered. We need a forum [on consolidation] like the one we are having here tonight.
It’s hard to join forces when you are not sure of things.”
Carter, the current mayor of Clifton Forge, said that if Alleghany County and Covington do consolidate, Clifton Forge would need to consolidate more if its services with the new government “and remain a town.”
Carter has served on council for nine years, and held the office of mayor for about 4½ years. Last year, he narrowly lost an election to Carolyn Barnette for the Clifton Forge West District seat on the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors.
“I don’t think the city is the way to do it [consolidation],” he said.
The candidates also touched on two hot-button issues in the town, the salary of newly-hired Town Manager Darlene Burcham and a proposed firearms ordinance being considered by council.
Burcham, a former Roanoke city manager, was recently hired by council at an annual $99,500 salary, plus benefits.
Tuesday, Council voted 3-1 to approve a three-year contract for Burcham.
Carter said he strongly supports Burcham’s hiring, but he voted against the three-year contract, noting that it has been common practice for town managers to serve at the pleasure of council.
Carter said that despite public perception, the Burcham’s salary is in line with those paid by towns of similar size in Virginia. Clifton Forge has approximately 4,000 citizens.
“The average salary for a town of our size is $95,000 to $135,000,” said Carter, who noted that his research was based on information provided by the Virginia Municipal League. “For the experience that we are getting at $99,500, I think we made a wise choice.”
Hillert agreed by saying Burcham’s salary “is well within the range of a town our size.” However, she said town council should have better communicated the terms of Burcham’s hiring to the public.
Houff said Burcham “has unlimited background” and explained that council has “had some problems with the [town manager] function in the past.”
“This woman was making a lot more money than what we are paying her,” Houff said.
When Burcham retired as Roanoke city manager in March, she was earning more than $173,000 annually.
“She has done more in three to five months than all of our town managers were able to do,” Houff said. “We know she is overqualified for the job.”
Brinkley, a former member of council, was in disagreement with the other three candidates over Burcham’s salary.
“I think [the salary] is a little high. It probably should be around $85,000 for a town of our size, instead of $100,000. Mrs. Burcham has done an excellent job, but economics should have figured into it,” Brinkley said.
Each of the four candidates expressed support for a firearms ordinance that would affect densely-populated areas.
“If a person has more than 10 acres, they should have the right to shoot on their land,” Carter said.
“I am against firearms in the community, unless there is suitable acreage,” Houff said.
“I do agree with the fact that no firearm should be discharged in any densely-populated area of the town,” Brinkley said.
Hillert said that she also supports the regulation of firearms, but added “the [proposed] ordinance needs to be looked at again and the citizens need to be listened to.”
Last week, citizens packed a town council meeting to voice concerns about the ordinance that’s under consideration.
All four candidates voiced opposition to raising real estate and personal property taxes in the near future.
Brinkley took direct aim at the taxes Clifton Forge residents pay to Alleghany County. He contends that Clifton Forge residents currently receive few services for the taxes they pay to the county.
“For some reasons, our friends in Low Moor seem to forget that our citizens pay the same taxes. In my opinion, we receive very little services for the taxes the county collects from the town,” he said.
Clifton Forge landowners pay a tax of 17 cents per $100 of assessed value to the town, and 64 cents per $100 to the county. The two taxes add up to 81 cents per $100.
Hillert noted that the average tax on real estate in Virginia is $1.21.