The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

November 10, 2008

Sophia mayor speaks out regarding closing

Jackie Ayres

Citizens of Sophia sent more than one complaint to The Register-Herald last week after they were unable to pay water or sewage bills because town hall was closed.

According to Sophia Mayor Harry Taylor, the town hall was closed last Thursday, but only for one day.

Taylor said official notifications were posted in the windows of the town hall 10 days prior to the closing to alert the public.

“We only have one clerk here, and she had to go to clerk training in Charleston,” Taylor said.

According to Taylor, the mandatory municipal judge training course is held once a year, and the state mandates his clerk to attend. Taylor said no one else was available to run the clerk’s desk.

Last week, City Councilman John Fanary told The Register-Herald he believed the town hall was closed due to state audits.

Taylor said the town is being audited, but it’s a routine audit and had nothing to do with the town hall being closed.

“The city of Beckley was audited just recently. The state audit goes around to different towns and cities year round. The state auditors had nothing to do with the closing of town hall for the day,” Taylor said.

Taylor wants the community to focus on the positive changes being made in Sophia, such as the GED testing center. He said it’s disheartening that people try to find cracks in the system.

“It’s sad; it really is,” Taylor said.

“We’re trying to bring this town up. We’ve got so much positive going on down there. On the 17th we’re having another meeting at the old Sophia High School regarding the new classes we’ll be offering to the community,” Taylor said.

Taylor says the Nov. 17 meeting will be an open house and he encourages all citizens in the community to attend.

— E-mail:

jayres@register-herald.com

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