Oversight

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - It once was lost, but now it's found. Earlier this summer, mistakes blamed on outdated payroll records resulted in a discrepancy of $6,406 in Jefferson County's finance department accounts. On Friday, Jefferson County Sheriff Everett "Ed" Boober, who also serves as the county's treasurer, said he had been advised that most of the money had been found. "It was an oversight by the tax office," Boober said. "There were five deposits not accounted for. " Boober said he was informed of the oversight by his chief tax deputy.

A proposal to give Washington County oversight of ambulance operations in the county is on hold for at least two weeks. The Washington County Commissioners decided Tuesday to allow Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association members to vote on the proposal. Commissioners President Gregory I. Snook said he wanted the association to vote before the commissioners decide whether to create an emergency medical services coordinator, who would oversee activities of ambulance companies.

Legislation that would give state and county officials more oversight in the operation of equine rescues passed the state Senate on Tuesday. The licensing and inspection regulations proposed in Senate Bill 540 were prompted, at least in part, by the seizure of more than 50 horses and two cows from Hidden Meadows Equine Rescue in Berkeley County in September 2011, said state Sen. John Unger, D-Berkeley/Jefferson, who sponsored the bill. Hidden Meadows operator Mary O'Brien, 37, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty and was fined $1,000 in October.

tarar@herald-mail.com Del. Christopher B. Shank said Monday during a meeting with the Cascade Committee that he thought the state should have more oversight of the PenMar Development Corp., possibly by appointing some members of the agency's board of directors and having a state representative on that board. He also repeated a position he made public last month that PenMar board members should be residents of Washington County, but that he would consider that it be open to state residents as a compromise.

Shadrach is employee of the month at health department Shannon Shadrach has been chosen as the Washington County Health Department's employee of the month for February. Shadrach has been employed at the health department since 1995 in the nursing division's School Health Program. As a nurse's aide at E. Russell Hicks Middle School, she provides direct care to students and staff during those times when school is in session. Her selection is a reflection of the cheerful competence she brings to a dynamic and demanding work situation.

State Del. Sue Hecht, D-Frederick/Washington, has been appointed vice chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and the Environment. "Del. Hecht is a well-respected legislator in Annapolis and around the state. Her years of dedicated service to the constituents of Frederick County and of the state, and her particular interest in transportation issues, make her an obvious choice for this subcommittee post," said House Speaker Casper R. Taylor Jr. Hecht has been a member of the House of Delegates and the Appropriations Committee since 1995.

Council to discuss licensing dry clubs A new Hagerstown law to license for-profit music or dance clubs that aren't required to have liquor licenses is expected to be voted on next Tuesday. The license would cost $500 annually, and would not apply to businesses with liquor licenses because they already have government oversight. Also exempt would be theaters, restaurants, and clubs sponsored or operated by a government, educational institution, or religious, charitable, benevolent, fraternal or social organization.

City Council endorses permits for dry clubs By DAN KULIN / Staff Writer A law requiring commercial, non-alcoholic entertainment clubs in Hagerstown to get a $500 license annually was unanimously endorsed Tuesday by the City Council. A final vote on the licensing law is expected Jan. 30. Entertainment clubs and businesses exempt from the proposed law include theaters, restaurants, clubs sponsored or operated by a government, educational institution, or religious, charitable, benevolent, fraternal or social organization.

Not eager to get involved in what has become a messy local dispute, a committee of the Maryland General Assembly last week asked local lawmakers to compromise on legislation affecting the redevelopment of the former Fort Ritchie Army base. County Commissioner James Kercheval has offered a plan that looks like a winner. It's time to accept it and get on with more important matters. Bills were filed to restructure the board of the PenMar Development Corp. after the appointment of several new people prompted the resignation of other, veteran members.

laurae@herald-mail.com The Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the executive director of which recently was forced to resign amid allegations of misappropriation of agency money, needs closer oversight, state lawmakers said Thursday. Convention and Visitors Bureau board Chairman Ron Vitkun has said Ben Hart was asked to resign Oct. 27 after an internal investigation into the matter. Hagerstown Police launched an investigation at the request of the bureau.

The company that provides speed cameras to the City of Hagerstown will pay $27,100 in refunds to 713 motorists who paid citations from three cameras that were not certified under the guidelines mandated by state law. Hagerstown Police Chief Mark Holtzman said Wednesday that the problem came to the attention of police on Monday, when a Washington County District Court judge threw out three citations that were issued in January to the same vehicle by...

The Maryland Dairy Industry Oversight and Advisory Council will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 12, at the Frederick County Extension Office, at 330 Montevue Lane in Frederick, Md.

Some of Washington County's state lawmakers said Thursday that they preferred proposing tighter financial oversight than a new gaming bill contains, but the law won't allow it. Del. Andrew A. Serafini, R-Washington, said legislators were legally limited in how much they could regulate budget reporting for tip-jar money that filters through the Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association to individual fire and rescue companies....

Those familiar with the frustrations of repeating lessons that they assumed had been learned understand the need for patience. So we will try to employ this virtue ourselves when we remind the Washington County delegation and County Commissioners for the umpteenth time that, where large sums of money are involved, it must be tracked at every step. Without systematic accountability, there will always be questions. So for the protection of those who handle the money, not to mention for the protection of the money itself, transparency is necessary from the time it's taken in to the time it's spent.

Washington County's state legislative delegation got closer Wednesday to agreeing on a final bill proposing new oversight over the financial workings of the Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. At a delegation meeting in Annapolis, lawmakers answered questions raised by Dale Hill, the association's president. Hill's main concern was whether the wording of the proposed bill would give county government officials budgetary oversight power over not just the association, but also its member fire and rescue companies.

The Berkeley County Council now wants to be advised if other elected county officeholders wish to hire a family member, relative or friend. The council must approve most employees hired by the county clerk, circuit court clerk, sheriff, prosecuting attorney and assessor, making members personally liable and subject to removal from office if they knowingly agree to an illegal hire, according to a letter the council agreed Thursday to send to the...

Democrats are fond of being outraged when the opposition party distorts reality for political gain. See: Burning, Flag; and Crime, Soft On. So, as it pertains to our discussion of the national debt, certainly Democrats would never dream of using similar scare tactics over such important issues as Medicare and Social Security — unless, of course, it might win them an election or two. In that case, all bets are off. Strip out all the politics from...

Legislation that would give state and county officials more oversight in the operation of equine rescues passed the state Senate on Tuesday. The licensing and inspection regulations proposed in Senate Bill 540 were prompted, at least in part, by the seizure of more than 50 horses and two cows from Hidden Meadows Equine Rescue in Berkeley County in September 2011, said state Sen. John Unger, D-Berkeley/Jefferson, who sponsored the bill. Hidden Meadows operator Mary O'Brien, 37, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty and was fined $1,000 in October.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A ceremonial opening of the October term of circuit court in Berkeley County will be Monday at the old Berkeley County Courthouse to recognize members of the legal community who have passed away in recent years. The "ceremony of tribute" will be at 1 p.m. in the main courtroom at 100 W. King St., according to an administrative order signed by the 23rd Judicial Circuit's five presiding judges earlier this month. Members of the bench and bar and family members of loved ones are invited to attend.

"I am disappointed better alternatives weren't allowed a vote. I voted against this bill because as I said on Monday, rushing to bail out Wall Street won't protect Main Street. "This bill paid for by taxpayers fails to fix problems caused by government policies. ... "On Monday, I offered the Main Street Protection Act (HR 7228) to protect 100 percent of the accounts in FDIC-covered banks. On Tuesday, the federal debt ceiling crossed the threshold of $10 trillion. "My bill would have provided the time and confidence in our banking system for us to research, debate and construct legislation which would work in the long term - rather than this short-term fix at taxpayers' expense.