FILLING THE GALLERY – County residents and representatives of local emergency services attended Thursday’s meeting of the Hancock County Commission. -- Craig Howell

NEW CUMBERLAND — The gallery was filled for Thursday’s meeting of the Hancock County Commission, with residents and representatives of local emergency services departments expressing concerns over the recent announcement of budgetary cuts in the county.

Following a work session to discuss the county’s budget March 7, commissioners issues a press release to local media announcing plans for the financial cuts – including a potential 13 percent cut to the Commission Office, and between 2 and 5 percent reductions for all other elected officials’ offices. The largest proposed cut was of 30 percent to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.

Many of those in attendance focused on the potential cuts to the Sheriff’s Office, with others noting rumors of possible cuts to some, or all, of the count’s volunteer fire departments.

Commission President Eron Chek noted no final decision has been made for the county’s budget, which has a deadline of submission to the West Virginia Auditor’s Office of March 28.

“There have been comments that are incredibly inaccurate,” Chek said. “I’d like to clear things up.”

EXPRESSING CONCERNS – John Hissam, chief of the Chester Volunteer Fire Department, was among those addressing the Hancock County Commission over potential budget cuts. -- Craig Howell

Chester Volunteer Fire Chief John Hissam was among those taking part in the meeting’s Citizen’s Comments session, explaining each of the county’s volunteer departments receive $44,000 a year from the county.

“Now, I’m being informed our budgets are being cut across the board,” Hissam said, noting he had been told fire departments would see $15,000 less funding. “When you take money away, services will be cut.”

Bethany Blewitt, of New Manchester, said she was concerned about the staffing of the sheriff’s department, feeling such cuts would guarantee layoffs. She also said word of the proposed budgetary cuts came as a surprise.

“It seems like this blindsided everybody,” she said.

When asked by the commission to comment on the matter, Sheriff Scott Gittings expressed appreciation for those who attended Thursday’s meeting, saying it showed the public cares about the services provided by his department.

Gittings said, while no decision is final, his hope is to be able to minimize losses, adding the cuts have been proposed because of a reduction in funding to the county.

“It was not an issue of overbudgeting,” Gittings said. “It’s a loss of funding.”

The commissioners also offered to hold a town hall – immediately following Thursday’s meeting – to allow others to offer questions or express concerns.

Several county sheriff’s deputies were in attendance, with Lt. Tim Reece saying they had been told it was possible about half of the department could lose their jobs.

Sgt. Hugh Tate said he felt it was “premature” for the commission to release the information on the potential cuts before anything had been determined.

Deputy Dante DiJirolanio agreed, saying many of the deputies learned of the plan through media reports.

“Guys have to wonder all weekend if they’re going to have a job,” he said, adding he feels such a move could affect the department’s ability to recruit in the future. “The lasting effects on the county is going to be for decades.”

Chad Lamp, deputy chief of the New Manchester Volunteer Fire Department, reiterated the need for funding from the county.

“That $44,000 the county provides us keeps our doors open,” Lamp said. “We’re all volunteer. We’re not out there getting paid. We’re doing it for the communities.”

Concerns also were expressed about the future of the Prevention Resource Office program in Hancock County Schools, but Gittings said both he and the county board of education want to see the program continue.

The commission has scheduled its next meeting for 2:30 p.m., March 27.