Jefferson County Commission candidates concerned about direction of government

October 20, 2008|By DAVE MCMILLION

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. -- Two Jefferson County Commission candidates who have deep concerns about the direction of Jefferson County government will square off in the Nov. 4 general election.

Democrat Patricia A. "Patsy" Noland and Republican Frank Kubic are competing for the Kabletown district seat on the commission. Commissioner Rusty Morgan currently holds the position but is not running for re-election.

The seat pays $30,800 a year, has a six-year term and all county voters can cast ballots in the race.

Noland

Spending and budgeting in county government has been a concern of Noland's and she said the issue remains at the "top of the list" as she heads into the general election.

Noland said she has been disturbed by the number of studies the current commission has paid for, like two to determine how pay for county employees should be structured.

One study cost about $55,000 and neither of them was needed because county officials could have determined a wage scale themselves, Noland said.

"All we had to do was look at surrounding areas (and) competitive wages," said Noland, 61, of 48 Douglas Drive, Charles Town.

Noland, who is the county's circuit clerk, said a reorganization of county government is needed, as well as an examination of salaries being paid to county officials to determine if they are worth the services.

Noland also believes county residents should be allowed to vote on new land-use laws for the county and worries the new ones being considered will be cumbersome to implement.

Kubic

Kubic, 82, of 98 Avon Bend Road, Charles Town, said county government is no longer for the people.

It's for "money and banking," Kubic said.

Kubic said when he asks local officials why impact fees were needed, the answer he gets is "money."

"(I) don't get any reasons (like) good for society, good for the kids," Kubic said.

Impact fees in the county are fees collected from developers to pay for facilities like new schools.

As for better communication between governments in Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan counties, Kubic said his opponent has suggested boards to achieve the goal.

Kubic said all that approach does is "increase expenses" and officials can learn about issues in counties if they just read local newspapers.

Kubic, a retired engineer who lived through the Depression and is a World War II veteran, also said county zoning laws can get out of hand.

The effects of those issues on the economy need to be monitored because a good economy is the "salvation" of man, Kubic has said.

|

|

|