Rules for Me, But Not for Thee?

I think we all understand the need for rules, guidelines, and laws. We also understand that sometimes exceptions are necessary. Apparently, though, the ability to recognize when a rule makes absolutely no sense isn’t a requirement for working in local government.

I’m taking a side with David Downes and the Virginia Beer Museum in his ongoing battle with the Town and its seemingly irrational rulebook.

Hear me out.

Back in 2005, we were renovating the building we occupy on Main Street. A lot has happened since then, so forgive me if I don’t remember every detail. But two things have always stuck with me.

First, we were told we had to provide a certain number of parking spaces, even though there is a public parking lot directly across the street.

Second, we were required to install a handicapped-accessible bathroom on each level of the building.

Have you been in our building? If you’re handicapped, you’re certainly not making it up the stairs. But if you somehow manage to get there, you’ll find a handicapped-accessible bathroom on the second floor, complete with a mop sink.

If someone could remind me what the mop sink is for, I’d appreciate it. After all, I’m getting older, and when I look around both levels of our carpeted building, my memory seems to fail me.

Nevertheless, if you ever need a mop sink, please feel free to use the one conveniently hidden in the handicapped bathroom on the second floor—which you can’t access unless you can climb the stairs.

And while you’re at it, enjoy a refreshing drink from our handicapped-accessible water fountain. Bonus points if you can actually find it.

You see where I’m going with this?

This brings me to the ridiculous rules and questionable decisions that small businesses in this town are sometimes expected to absorb, all while simply trying to get by.

The Virginia Beer Museum isn’t exactly a high-profit enterprise. In fact, it’s a nonprofit born out of a love for local history, beer history, and the community. Whether or not beer museums are your thing, I can tell you that we regularly mention it to visitors exploring our town. It’s a unique attraction, one of only a handful in the country, and has an interesting story of its own, including its recognition by the Virginia General Assembly.

I’ve seen the Town’s proposal for restructuring the parking area bordering the Museum property on Chester Street. And I have to wonder: Does the Town really have no better use for its money than spending it on a court battle with this property owner, re-landscaping an area that seems to offer more disruption than benefit, and losing handicap access for a local business in the process?

All of this at a time when property taxes are high, the cost of living keeps climbing, and small businesses are trying to keep their doors open.

What exactly does one additional parking space accomplish for the greater good of our community? Is it worth the legal expenses, the landscaping costs, the time and the aggravation?

And perhaps the bigger question is: What is this really about?

I’m sure David has annoyed a few people along the way. Heck, he annoys me some days, too. But I’ve never known him to be unreasonable. And disagreement, personality conflicts, or simply not liking someone should never become a substitute for sound public policy.

Government has a responsibility to enforce rules fairly and consistently. But it also has a responsibility to use common sense, exercise good judgment, and recognize when the letter of the law is getting in the way of its original purpose.

Small businesses don’t need special treatment. They need reasonable treatment. They need a town government that understands the difference between enforcing rules and making life unnecessarily difficult for the people who contribute to this community.

Perhaps it’s time someone at Town Hall stepped back, looked at the bigger picture, and asked whether this particular fight is really worth having.

Or, if they’re still having trouble finding the bigger picture, I can always direct them to our second-floor mop sink.

Sue Laurence
Front Royal, VA

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