Hoiden Beach Sends Controversial Light Law Back To Planninq Board ItY l>OI <; KH'ITKK lloldcn Beach Commissioners tossed a scalding hoi |H?iaii> U> the town's planning and zoning hoaid Mon day. The contiovcrsial outside lighting ordinance that's been debated since it itnik efl'cci last tail has been sent hack to the planning hoard lor review. Reacting to growing op|K>sition lioin homeowners and residents, the town IhkuxI asked lor a re-evaluation ol the rules at their meeting Monday night. Among other things, the rule says security lights must be shielded so they don't shine on neighboring property and yard lights can't lx- more than 10 feet oil the ground Since the ordinance took effect, town officials have forced several homeowners to lower security lights that were more than 1(1 feet oil the ground on utility |*>lcs llolden Beach filed a lawsuit in July seeking a court order to have a security light on Brunswick Avenue enns "I feel that one ordinance has caused this town more problems than any other ordinance Mayor Pro Tern Gloria Barren lowered lo the 10- luol limit. Mayor John Tandy said Monday the outside lighting ordinance has created almost as much controversy as the leash law. But he said some people are under the impression that the town doesn't allow any yard or security lights. The ordinance allows outside lights as long as they meet certain guidelines. The Holdcn Beach Property Owners Association, which is made up of X*><) landowners, voted at its Labor day weekend meeting to ask town officials lor a re evaluation of the rules. At Monday's town meeting, resident Boh Kohde asked for specifically that die rules be changed so yard lights have to be shielded like security lights. Several other residents seated in die audience also asked lor a review of the ordinance, which was adopted by a previous town hoard in November ll)Xl> and took ellect a year later. Bcrlc Walker, who has owned a house on Tarpon Drive for 2X years, said she's had problems with van dalism. and neighboring houses have been broken into since the light ordinance took clfcct. "The town commissioners are elected to serve the people, ami I think this is what they should do," she said. Alan Holdcn said three ol the four businesses he owns at Holdcn Beach have been broken into since the town started enforcing the new lighting inles. He said doors have been kicked ill, products have been stolen and money has been taken Iroin machines Holden said he didn't have any problems with break ins belorc the new rules took cltcet. Also. Holden said the 4()<) homeowners who tent their collages through his real estate agency and want the rules changed. Holden has appealed a town ruling regarding lights at Surlsidc Pavilion and is scheduled to appear beloir the Holden Beach Board ot Adjustment Monday. Mayor Pro Tern filoria Barren made the motion to send ihe rules back to the planning hoaid. saymi! she doesn't think the town should prohibit someone tiom having a light il they need it. "I leel that one ordinance has caused this town inoie (See l.K.II I I.AW, Page 2- \ I SlAf> PHOTO BY fcDDifc SWIAIT Fewer Folks But Just As Much Fun Crowds have thinned out these days along the South li runs wick Islands beaches, hut a growing number of vacationers are discovering ih/it Kuminvr /m/t ivirlv f/ill ttru ht>vl nf nil sit tl%*> /?/>?? that late summer and early fall are best of all at the beach ? ? ? ? ? ? a? n? ? a VaMBBJBII Shallotte Reinstates Suspended Policeman I?Y l)()l (J KU'I'TKK Shallotte Patrolman Keith Croom is back on the job alter town aldermen voted last week to reinstate the officer following a two-week sus pension. Crooin, who was suspended with pay Aug. 22 following an allegation that he allowed a minor to possess alcohol, was reinstated last Wednesday to the applause of about 50 people who packed town hall. The vote to lift the suspension was unanimous, and came after the second of two executive ses sions called during the meeting for board mem bers to consult with Town Attorney Mark Lewis. Police Chief Rodney Gause had suspended Crooin for four days in June after he allegedly provided a 15-year-old girl with beer at his resi dence, thereby contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Gause said a majority of the town aldermen approved of the disciplinary action at the time. In addition to the suspension, Croom was ordered to apologize to the parents of the minor involved. But the town board ordered the police chief to suspend Croom again at the Aug. 21 meeting. "Hie suspension with pay continued through Sept. 4, when Croom had a hearing before the town board. Mayor fro Tent Paul Wayne Reeves, who was absent w hen aldermen approved the original suspen "I felt like he was treated unfair. He was punished twice for it , and / didnt think it was right." ? Chief Rodney Gause on Croom's suspension sion, intaxluced a resolution three weeks ago seek ing Croom's dismissal. He withdrew it following an executive session. The police chief said last week he opposed the second suspension. "1 felt like he was treated un fair," Gause said. "1 le was punished twice for it, and I didn't think it was right." Although the two-hour hearing was held in open session, aldermen met in executive session twice during the proceedings to talk with their at torney. Croom and his attorney, James Payne, had re quested the open hearing. They met briefly with aldermen during the second closed session, alter which the board voted to reinstate the officer with full pay and benefits. Following the first closed session, the town board agreed to hold the hearing in open session until the parents of the minor were called to testi ly. However, the matter was resolved w ithout tes limony from the parents. Motions Submitted Payne submitted two formal motions last week to dismiss the ease, arguing in both that the po lice officer's right to due process would be vio lated if he was fired. One called for dismissal on the grounds of "double jeopardy." Payne said punishing Croom twice for the same incident would be a violation of rights guaranteed him in the U.S. Constitution. In a separate motion, Payne argued that the al leged violation is a "type 4 violation" under the police deparunenl's policies and procedures man ual. Those types of violations are punishable by a reduction in pay or grade or suspension for a pe riod in excess of three days. Payne said firing Croom would violate his right to due process Payne also said the attempt to lire Croom was against the policy manual, which says the police chief is the only person who can initiate the fir ing of an officer. Although all firings must be approved by the board ol aldermen and mayor, Payne said the policy manual doesn't give town board members the authority to fire policc officers. (See POLICKMAN, Page 2-A) Board Supports Use Of 'Quest' In Middle School Drug Program BY SUSAN USHKR Two parents who objcct lo the use of Quest in the Brunswick County Schools' drug abuse pre vention education program pushed without success Monday night for its removal. Brunswick County Board of Education members, citing parental, community and educators' support lor Quest, said they plan to continue using the self-esteem building pro gram. Janet Pope ol Thomasboro told the board that Quest should be done away with because it undermines parental authority by teaching stu dents lo set their own values and promotes New Age ideas and hu manistic values. After hearing comments for and against the program, board Chairman Donna Baxter told the group ol about 6() people she had received 29 calls in support of Quest and none against it. Board member Polly Russ said she would like to sec the program expanded because it teaches key skills students need to acquire by the middle schixil grades. "You don't have to have your children in this program, but please don't de prive other children from participat ing in it," she asked the objecting parents. Faced with a long agenda and lengthy discussion of Quest and an other student self-development pro gram, Pathways to Excellence, the board cut its meeting short Monday. After an hour-long session behind closed doors discussing personnel and attorney-client matters, the board recessed until the following night. Board chairman Donna Baxter said the board would like adminis trators to find a way to accommo date parents who do not want their children in the Quest program and that they will explore the use of parental permission slips. Mrs. Pope told the board she thinks the Quest program leaches students that they can determine their own values, even if contrary to those of their parents. She said it in troduces students to New Age ideas and Eastern mysticism, and by ask ing "intrusive questions" and re quiring private journal-keeping, subjects them to psychological test ing without parental knowledge or permission, in violation of federal law. She objected to students in Quest "conversational circles" being told to allow other students to freely ex press iheir views and opinions on issues without criticism or judgment from their peers. She said site was afraid that the experience could generate peer pressure lor a student to accept others' ideas even il con trary to his or her own beliefs. Minting at potential litigation. Mrs. Pope claimed Quest violates federal regulations requiring separa tion of church and state because it incorporates relaxation, a technique associated with Eastern religions, and visualization, which she said is associated with the occult. Instead of using Juest, she asked that the hoard adopt a curriculum called Building Drug-Eree ScIhh \ lor grades K-12, developed by the American Council tor Drug Education. When told the program .vil' con tinue. >he cautioned the boa- it ?ha: witn us "great responsiMitv comes great accountability ' Lion's Quest, a s|vcial projt. .1 ol Lions International. \*.as tir^t intio duced to the school system at Shallotte Middle Schi>ol three \ ears ago, with the continued I manual backing of Shallotte Lions Club and numerous local businesses and indi viduals. Lions Club Piesident Mike Blandino told the board that Quest is considered die "Cadillac" ol anti drug programs. "In an ideal world programs like Quest and Pathways would not be needed." he said, but in today's so ciety they are. "But today they may be the only exposure some children have to developing positive social behaviors and decision making skills." Because of its successful use at Shallotte Middle. Quest is now used in other county middle schools as well as part of the K-12 drug educa tion prevention program. The schools use a curriculum provided by the slate in grades 9- 1 1 and a combination of state and pri vate programs in grades K-5, in cluding DARE at the tilth grade level, in cooperation with the Brunswick County Sheriffs Department. Shallotte Middle School Principal Mark Owens said the school chose Quest because it was being used by all of the model middle schools stall visited when the school began its conversion to a "middle school" plan of organization and was seek ing a curriculum to use 111 the "advi sor/advisee" (A/A) program, a small group session dial is part ot the (See BOARD, Page 2 -A) FIRED ENGINEERS SUE COUNTY Controversy's Nothing New For Shallotte Point Water Project BY TERRY POPK Like many Shalloitc Point residents, R.C. Eaton has heard many promises bui seen few results from plans to install coun ty water lines in his community. "There's not a stake driven anil not a pipe in the ground," said Raton. Delays were cited by Brunswick County | Commissioners as the reason Houston and | Associates of Shalloitc w as fired Aug. 3 as the engineering firm at work designing that - project. Now the engineers have filed suit against the county, claiming they were de liberately forced to nuss their deadlines. Their lawsuit filed in Brunswick County | Superior Court claims the county contin | ued to drag its lect in obtaining access to t the proposed site for a 3(X),(XX)-gallon wa ter tank to he huill at the Point. Because land entry rights were not promptly obtained by the county, Houston and Associates suffered a two-month de lay, it claims, in what is projected to be a bitter legal case over the county's alleged breach of contract. County Attorney David Clegg said the county is preparing to file its own lawsuit against the engineering firm, which was hired in February to design six projects lor the county. "We will be countcrclaiming," said Clegg. Commissioners voted 3-2 u> terminate the contract with Houston and Associates. At the ume, commissioners said the county had in no way impeded in the firm's progress. The contract suites that it may he termi nated by either party without cause by 30 days written notice and that all engineer's work in progress shall be turned over to the county upon payment for the work. C'legi; would not discuss how contract ne gotiations between the county and the linn follow mg the commissioners* voce ensued. "The action of the board spoke for it sell," said Clegg. A July deadline on plans for the Shallotte Point project was delayed twice by the firm, to the tall of 199 1 and again to F-'ehruary 1992. said Clegg. Plans are to bid the project out to a contractor in early 1992 and allow II months for construction. Camp, Dresser and McKcc of Raleigh has been hired to replace Houston and Associates 10 finish design work on ihe es timated S7 million in water projects. In ad dition u> designing water lines lorShallotte Point, the engineers were charged with de signing a line down Thomasboro Road, down N.C. *>04 to Seaside, along U.S. 17 from Shallotte to Grisscttown and a U.S. 17 pump station south of Shallotte. According to the lawsuit, Houston and Associates delivered designs for the Thomasboro Road and N.C. lMU project to the county on Aug. 2, just three tlays be fore they were fired. On that date. County Engineer Robert Tucker told the firm that access to sites for the pump station and water tank at Shall olio Point would not lv available until Aug. 1 1 , the claim suites. The county has paid lite linn approxi mately S84.(HH), which amounts to about 30 percent ol the project. said Clegg. On Aug. II. Houston and Associates submitted copies ol the engineering plans for the projects to the NCNB Sluillottc of fice to be held in escrow pending a deter* mination of the rights ol both parties. ] Included in the package were completed plans for all projects except for the Shallottc Point water tank and U.S. 17 pump station, (he lawsuit claims. The claim is asking a jury to award Houston and Associates S 1 87.CXK) plus m terest for work completed, which the coun (See FIRKI), Page 2-A)

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