Washington County briefs

May 07, 2008|By JOSHUA BOWMAN

Commissioners remember Hendershot

Washington County Commissioners President John F. Barr called a moment of silence before Tuesday's county commissioners meeting in remembrance of N. Linn Hendershot, a community activist and former Hagerstown City Councilman who died Thursday.

"Linn was an inspiration to me. His passion for the community was second to none," Barr said.

Commissioner Kristin B. Aleshire, who served on the Hagerstown City Council with Hendershot, echoed Barr's comments.

"He did not let things happen, he got involved and made things happen," Aleshire said.

Hendershot contracted polio at age 3 and was in a wheelchair since early adulthood. He was on a ventilator for the last 12 years of his life after having a tracheotomy.

Still, Hendershot worked tirelessly as an advocate for the elderly and disabled.

He attended several county commissioners meetings in the past year asking for funding for a senior center in Washington County.

"If half of citizens participated in government half as much as he did, we'd be much better for it," Aleshire said.

Hendershot's funeral was Tuesday, according to his obituary.

Workers comp for fire and rescue volunteers approved

The Washington County Commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday that will allow fire and rescue volunteers to be covered by the county's workers' compensation program while on duty.

Each volunteer fire and rescue company will decide whether its members are to be considered covered employees.

Volunteers would not become county employees for any other purpose because of workers' compensation coverage, according to the resolution.

Commissioners proclaim Building Safety Week

Washington County Commissioners President John F. Barr on Tuesday proclaimed the week of May 5 to 11 as Building Safety Week in conjunction with a national building safety week.

The national observance is sponsored by the International Building Council and is meant to recognize the effect building codes, inspections and safety workers have on building safety.

Washington County Permits and Inspections Director Daniel F. DiVito noted that it was building codes that required a fire wall to be installed between the Boone Hotel and an adjacent building in 2003. That fire wall, DiVito said, prevented a recent fire in the hotel from spreading to the adjacent building.

"If you look at the pictures, you can clearly see the effect that wall had," DiVito said.

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