The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

March 11, 2010

Special office to be set up to manage state’s vehicles

By Mannix Porterfield Register-Herald Reporter

CHARLESTON — Gov. Joe Manchin got a green light Thursday to set up a special management office to manage West Virginia’s fleet of vehicles and aircraft, the target of a highly critical audit last year.

Manchin scored another victory with House approval of his accelerated parole program, another step in his bid to trim the burgeoning prison population.

A series of performance audits found widespread abuse by those with access to the vehicles.

In fact, more than 50 percent of them were driven for personal use rather than state business.

But is the fleet management office a legislative mandate or merely a strong suggestion by the Legislature?

Delegate Kelli Sobonya, R-Cabell, raised that issue after spying language in the bill that says the Department of Administration “may” set up the fleet management office rather than it “shall.”

That is how the bill arrived in his committee from both the governor and the sponsors of the Senate legislation, House Government Organization Chairman Jim Morgan, D-Cabell, replied.

“It’s not actually a mandate?” Sobonya persisted. “It’s not that it shall?”

“The best answer for that is, I think you can bet your boots the governor will see that this takes place,” Morgan replied.

Delegate Daryl Cowles, R-Morgan, led the House into inserting a key provision, an amendment that adds the clause, “vehicles and aircraft shall not be used for personal purposes.”

Morgan endorsed the amendment, saying the sponsor found it would cause no harm to the bill itself.

Judiciary Chairman Tim Miley, D-Harrison, said the accelerated parole program excludes any convicts in custody for crimes of violence, felonies involving firearms, consecutive felony drug offenses or felonies against minor children.

Eligible inmates must complete a rehabilitation program and standardized risk and needs assessment, Miley explained.

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com

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