Town Council moves toward vote on 4-H Center July 4th funding request

Front Royal Town Council work session discussion on June 4 indicated an apparent majority consensus reluctant to help fund this year’s July 4^th fireworks at the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational and Conference Center in Harmony Hollow.  At issue for most was the lack of an application process in place to determine exactly what criteria should be applied to financial assistance requests from community organizations.

One of council’s staunchest critics of easy approvals of third party or non-profit requests for Town financial assistance said he brought the matter forward “with mixed emotions”.  Vice-Mayor Eugene Tewalt said he promised to broach the subject of council’s openness to a $2,500 contribution to this year’s planned 4-H Center Fourth of July fireworks display following a conversation with former Randolph-Macon Academy President General Hobgood.

Tewalt said Hobgood had become involved in trying to help the 4-H Center re-establish some operations following his retirement from R-MA.  Warren County has committed $2,500 to the 4-H Center July 4^th program and Hobgood wondered if the Town might be open to a matching contribution.

Tewalt said his perception was that the 4-H Center had the fireworks program scheduled but not adequate funding to realize it.

Mayor Hollis Tharpe wondered at the 4-H Center’s funding streams, asking what they got from state or federal sources.  Without a clear-cut answer, the mayor pointed out that past discussion of an in-town July 4^th fireworks display had been abandoned “because nobody wanted to spend the money.”

When Tewalt polled council, Jacob Meza began by noting there were no funds set aside in the existing town budget for such an expenditure – “I’d pass on it this time,” Meza told his colleagues.

William Sealock suggested establishment of an application process that would include an audit of a requesting entity’s financial situation before committing Town money to such projects – “We’re starting to work on that,” Town Manager Joe Waltz noted.

Chris Morrison said he would not favor a $2,500 contribution – “Less maybe,” he said.

Noting that the 4-H Center July 4^th firework display was a popular community event, Gary Gillespie was the only outright supporter of the request.

John Connolly was absent – out of town on business it was observed.

Following the eight-minute work session discussion resulting in two clearly against; two on the fence; one in favor; and one (fiscal conservative) absent, Mayor Tharpe instructed staff to move the 4-H request forward toward a meeting vote.