In the minutes: Bridgewater Minutes, Flock camera (Oct 13)

MINUTES
BRIDGEWATER TOWN COUNCIL
October 13, 2026
Present: Mayor Ted W. Flory Council: Steven A. Schofield, Travis L. Bowman, William B. Kyger,
Jr., A. Fontaine Canada, James M. Tongue, Stephanie L. Curtis.
Absent: None.
The Bridgewater Town Council met in regular session on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at Sipe
Center, 100 North Main Street, Bridgewater, Virginia.
Call to Order: Mayor Flory called the Council to order at 7:00 p.m.
Invocation: Mr. Kyger gave the invocation after a moment of silence for Rodney Eagle, former
Harrisonburg City Council member and mayor.
Presentation for Dr. William Miracle: Mayor Flory presented Dr. Miracle with the framed
proclamation signed in September, which he read out, as well as a beautiful lamp with the Town seal
to commemorate his service to the Town.
Visitors:
1. Anna Cubbage (4188 Sunrise Drive) thanked Council for bagging the Flock cameras immediately
after the decision last month and requested an ordinance.
2. David Manson (105 McGuffin Avenue) said he was glad to see the presentation for Dr. Miracle
and also asked for an ordinance about Flock to go with the resolution.
Minutes: Ms. Morgan Shirkey
September minutes were approved as presented.
Finance: Mr. Steven Schofield
1. September Treasurer’s Report (Attached).
Mr. Schofield moved that the September 2026 Treasurer’s Report be accepted for submission to audit.
Seconded by Ms. Curtis. The motion carried unanimously as follows: Those voting aye: Schofield,
Kyger, Bowman, Flory, Canada, Tongue, Curtis. Those voting nay: None. Absent: None.
2. September Bills (Attached).
Mr. Schofield moved to appropriate and authorize the payment of September bills in the amount of
$1,332,606.46 and to ratify the earlier payment of bills totaling $300,496.53, all as reviewed and
approved by Town staff and the Finance Committee Chairman. Seconded by Mr. Bowman. The
motion carried unanimously as follows: Those voting aye: Schofield, Kyger, Bowman, Flory, Canada,
Tongue, Curtis. Those voting nay: None. Absent: None.

Town of Bridgewater Council Minutes
October 13, 2026
Page 2

Ordinance: Mr. Bill Kyger
Mr. Kyger presented the basics of the proposed ordinance change relating to large item trash and
establishing civil penalties for those who do not remove items when requested. The ordinance
establishes a warning and compliance period before any penalties are assessed.
Mr. Kyger moved to approve “An Ordinance Amending Section 17-503 of the Town Code” (O-192-13),
as presented. Seconded by Mr. Canada. The motion carried unanimously as follows: Those voting aye:
Schofield, Kyger, Bowman, Flory, Canada, Tongue, Curtis. Those voting nay: None. Absent: None.
Administrative Report: Mr. J. Jay Litten
1. Flock Update. The day after Council passed its resolution, Mr. Litten sent notice to Flock
terminating the contract and asking them to remove the cameras. After not hearing back for some
time, the response was that they see our contract expires in 2029 and we’d talk about termination
issues then. Mr. Litten informed them he meant now, so today we’ve asked the Town Attorney to take
care of it.
2. Update of Countywide Police Mutual Aid Agreement. The Countywide agreement is very
technical and is an agreement amongst all the towns and localities, sheriff’s office, etc. for lending aid
when needed. We do have an overlapping set of aid agreements with individual locations such as
Broadway, Dayton, and the sheriff’s office that help protect us from the confusion of the countywide
agreement, but this agreement seems to be of importance to the sheriff’s office as they sent an update
to the mayor this month asking him to sign and return it. Mr. Litten did a line-by-line review and
determined there are no substantive changes aside from dates, names, and lists of equipment. Mayor
Flory pointed out that the existing agreement is old enough that Mayor Dinkel signed it and Mr.
Schofield asked if 2013 really was the last time it was updated and if this is something to expect
periodically or someone just found it—Mr. Litten said it seemed they just wanted to update it.
Mr. Kyger moved to approve the County Mutual Aid Agreement, and the mayor’s authority to sign it.
Seconded by Mr. Tongue. The motion carried unanimously as follows: Those voting aye: Schofield,
Kyger, Bowman, Flory, Canada, Tongue, Curtis. Those voting nay: None. Absent: None.
3. Update on Anthem Litigation – Town Attorney. We recently learned that we’ve been sued by an
air ambulance company because Anthem didn’t pay what they say is due, and Mr. Litten turned it
over to the town attorney. Mr. Botkins said that he learned of the lawsuit when he got an email from a
reporter asking for a comment to the claim attached, which had been filed by PHI Health, LLC, one
of the largest U.S. air ambulance services. There are 24 defendants along with the town on the case,
the primary defendant being Anthem Health Claims of Virginia and the main claim being that Anthem
failed to pay over $850,000 in arbitrations awarded and falling under the No Surprises Act. The Act
was designed to prevent balance billing for patients that need to undergo emergency treatment that
may be out of network or not covered. The portion that is from the Town’s coverage accounts for
about $35,000 of the total sought. The Town was named as a party because they allege the town acts
as a representative and fiduciary of the plan the Town provides to the employees and therefore owes a
fiduciary duty to PHI not to continue using Anthem. This is a legal stretch, and we reached out to
Anthem, and they authorized their defense counsel to represent the Town and the other defendants in
the case free of charge. We’ve completed that arrangement with Matthew Aaronson of Troutman
Pepper, who specializes in defending national health insurance providers. He’s been given the
authority to do everything that’s needed to defend the Town and protect our interests here. The first
deadline for filing responses to the lawsuit has been extended to November 3, and we’re likely to see

Town of Bridgewater Council Minutes
October 13, 2026
Page 3

a lot of filing activity around then. Mr. Schofield asked if there were other municipalities listed as
defendants, and Mr. Botkins didn’t recall any by name. Names standing out were Best Buy, Amazon,
Walmart, and Virginia Department of Transportation. Mr. Litten noted that helicopter transport was
the limiting factor here—you had to have an insured who needed air transport during the period
they’re seeking reimbursement. Mr. Botkins said he hopes the town will be dismissed as a party at an
early stage.
Public Works: Mr. A. Fontaine Canada and Ms. Megan S. Byler
1. Fountainhead Stormwater Procurement. We spoke last month about phase 1 of the infrastructure
project, which has now gone out to bid. Ten different contractors showed up for the mandatory prebid meeting last week and were able to speak with the engineer and visit the site where the work is
taking place. Bids are due October 30.
2. Fountainhead Water & Sewer Grant. For this second phase, we have engineered construction
plans for the water and sewer lines. Alex Wilmer had submitted for a Community Development
Block Grant. We were fortunate to be awarded $833,384, one of only 17 communities to receive part
of the $22.7 million in funding the governor had set aside to be awarded for these community
development block grants. The money will go directly to the water and sewer portion of the projects.
This was a highly competitive grant, so we’re really pleased.
Recreation Commission: Ms. Stephanie L. Curtis and Ms. Megan S. Byler
No report was submitted.
Community Relations: Mr. Travis Bowman
1. Halloween at Oakdale. Saturday, October 31 from 2-4 p.m. Dress the kids in costumes and come
out to the track at Oakdale where local businesses and groups will have stations set up around the
track for trick-or-treating. This event is a safe time for kids and is yet another great event the Town
provides.
Economic Development Committee: Mr. Jim Tongue
No report was submitted.
Mayor's Report: Mayor Ted W. Flory
1. Police Report.
Adjournment – 7:31 p.m.

________________________________
Ted W. Flory, Mayor

________________________________
Morgan Shirkey, Clerk