Dumfries police move still undecided

By Aileen Streng

Published: August 11, 2008

The plan to move the Dumfries Police Department into leased space in a shopping center is no longer the done deal it appeared to be two weeks ago.

The Dumfries Town Council rehashed the matter during its meeting earlier last week despite its previous decision that the matter was decided.

At a council work session on July 22, a lengthy and heated discussion about the already approved lease agreement for the police department was marred by raised voices, harsh words and frustration.

"We left here that night with blood on the floor," Town Manager Dave Whitlow told the council on Aug. 5.

Some council members had tried during that meeting to resurrect discussion on the project, but Robert's Rules of Order rendered the matter moot leaving the already voted on and approved agreement to stand.

Whitlow said however on Tuesday that he wanted to bring to matter up again for discussion in order to find some common ground among the divisive council.

"I believe it would be in the best interest of the town to have a committee … to review the process and goals of the move and make a recommendation back to the council," Whitlow wrote in a memo to the council.

"I want to clarify the matter. I don't want to leave this as is with the inability for the council to move on," Whitlow said.

He suggested a committee comprised of himself, the police chief, the town attorney, Council member Cliff Brewer and Mayor Fred Yohey. Brewer strongly favors the move while Yohey strongly opposes it.

Currently, the 14 police officers and two administrative staffers work in about

1,000-square feet of space in the basement of the Dumfries Town Hall.

The plan is to move the department into 3,000-square-feet of leased space in the Triangle Shopping Plaza for three years until an alternative location is found or built for the police officers.

The town council has voted to spend $57,000 for the lease and $20,000 to remodel the space so it would conform to the needs of the police department.

The mere broaching of the subject, however, was enough to ignite another discussion.

Council member Dorothea Barr accused the town manager of "stacking the deck" of the committee in favor of the project stating that everyone except Yohey already supports it.

Town Attorney Kristi Caturano pointed out to Barr, "I am not a vote for the other side." She said she had no position at all on the matter.

Barr also said that she wanted Brewer replaced on the committee with the John Webb, chairman of the town's Planning Commission

"Anyone here tonight knows you are bias," Barr said to Brewer.

Yohey took the opportunity to present and discuss data he had collected that he had been prevented from presenting at the work session.

Yohey's research points to additional expenses associated with the move that he stated had not been factored into the cost. He also questioned the need for that much work space.

Despite much discussion about the process used to decide upon the leased space and questions of its legality, the only consensus reached was that the matter would be turned over to a committee comprised of the members suggested by Whitlow with the addition of one more, Webb.

Staff writer Aileen Streng can be reached at 703-878-8010.