W’burg girl forgoes birthday party in order to help others

Thanks to the efforts of 10-year-old Hayley Bays, three less fortunate children will have a merrier Christmas this year.

Hayley Bays, 10, presents W’burg Police Sgt. Brandon White with a $320 donation to the Shop with a Cop program during Monday’s monthly city council meeting as Mayor Roddy Harrison watches.

During Monday’s monthly Williamsburg City Council meeting, Bays presented the Williamsburg Police Department with a $320 donation for the Shop with a Cop program.

Hayley told her mother, Beth Bays, that she wanted to take the money that would have been spent on her birthday party and instead donate it to the Shop with a Cop program.

Beth Bays said that she is very proud of her daughter and is truly blessed.

“She saw the program last year at Wal-Mart. She asked me about it and I told her what it was for and what they were doing. She was like, ‘Well, that sounds cool,’” Beth Bays noted.

“When her birthday rolled around, I asked her what she wanted to do for it, and she said, ‘I just want to give the money that you were going to spend towards the kids for the program,’ so that is what we have done. She is wanting to plan some bake sales and things for next year.”

The Shop with a Cop program takes less fortunate children on $100 shopping sprees at Wal-Mart right before Christmas.

Also during Monday’s meeting, the council discussed refinancing of some debt, including a 1998 United States Department of Agriculture loan, and a 2008 general obligation bond that was used to finance the construction of Williamsburg City Hall.

R.J. Palmer, senior vice president with Compass Municipal Advisors, told the council that he anticipates a $393,536 savings for the city.

The existing two debts have an average interest rate of 5.91 percent and Palmer said he thinks the city can refinance at a 2.65 percent rate, which is a 3.26 percent savings.

This is without changing debt repayment dates or the amount paid annually.

The city council unanimously approved a resolution supporting the refinancing, and held the first reading of an ordinance that will authorize it.

No vote is required for a first reading.

Harrison announced that he is planning to call a special meeting on Monday, Nov. 27, when the second reading will take place.

During the special meeting, Harrison also plans to have a presentation regarding the purchase of new vehicles for the Williamsburg Police Department, in addition to a new vehicle for the fire chief and four other city vehicles.

“Those interest rates could change by the first of the year,” Harrison said about why the city is rushing to get this done this month.

In addition, during Monday’s meeting, the council postponed the first reading of an ordinance to annex VFW Post 3167 into the city limits.

Harrison said there are still a few things the city needs to do in regards to the proposed annexation, and some more things that the VFW Post must do, such as having an official vote of the membership.

Harrison plans to put the issue of the VFW annexation on the agenda for the Nov. 27 special meeting.

In other business, the council:

• Announced that Senture is trying to add an additional 120 jobs at its Williamsburg facility, which already employees over 460 people.

Harrison said that for this particular Senture contract, perspective workers don’t have to pass a credit check, which is something that has blocked the hiring of some people in the past.

New employees could start out earning as much as $15 per hour if they don’t take certain benefits.

• Discussed the need to replace faded stop signs throughout town.