VIRGINIA BRIEFING

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

FAIRFAX COUNTY

New Fire and Rescue Chief a Familiar Face

Fairfax County yesterday named Ronald L. Mastin, the fire chief of Henrico County, to be the new chief of the Fairfax Fire and Rescue Department.

Mastin, 53, was with the Fairfax department for 28 years, rising to the rank of deputy chief of operations, before leaving in 2001 to take over in Henrico, just outside Richmond. Mastin succeeds Michael Neuhard, who retired in February to become a deputy county administrator in Stafford County.

Mastin's appointment, announced by the Board of Supervisors after a national search, becomes effective June 3. His annual salary will be $160,000, Fairfax officials said.

-- Tom Jackman

INOVA FAIRFAX HOSPITAL

Deal Reached in Hearing-Impaired Case

The Justice Department yesterday announced a settlement agreement with Inova Fairfax Hospital to resolve allegations that the hospital failed to quickly provide a sign-language interpreter for the deaf mother of a pregnant patient.

The deal, reached under the Americans With Disabilities Act, requires the hospital to assess the communication needs of patients and family members with speech or hearing impairments upon their arrival and provide qualified interpreters as soon as possible. The pregnant patient, who had been in a car accident, requested an interpreter for her mother 30 minutes after arrival, but the hospital did not call for one for more than five hours, Justice Department officials said.

Chuck Rosenberg, the U.S. attorney in Alexandria, said prosecutors are "committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities and their families are not subjected to unequal treatment because of poor communication."

-- Jerry Markon

STATE GOVERNMENT

Kaine Tells Agencies to Trim Energy Bills

Virginia's state agencies must cut their energy costs by at least 20 percent in the next three years under an order issued by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) yesterday.

The governor named Stephen A. Walz, the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy's director of administration, to a new post of senior adviser for energy policy to help agencies become more energy efficient by 2010. Walz also will chair a new advisory council on energy policy.

Under Kaine's order, state agencies are directed to use "green" practices for new construction and building renovations; lease office space that is energy efficient, convenient to public transportation and accessible by bicycles and pedestrians; and minimize travel and purchase fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles. State government's energy costs were more than $290 million last year, the governor said.

-- Associated Press