Richardson is pulled from NRBH board seat

In a 4-1 vote, the Alleghany County Board of Commissioners recalled Chairman Ken Richardson from the New River Behavioral Healthcare Board due to a controversy over a letter.

Richardson, who cast the lone vote in favor of him staying on the NRBH board, had served for 11 years on that board, including eight as chairman.

The letter in question was sent out to local representatives, some commissioners indicated, and was critical of some of New River Behavioral Healthcare's practices.

County Manager Don Adams said Tuesday that he would look for copies of the letters. "I have never had a copy of the response and the letter that was sent out is not in my hands right now," Adams said. He noted that he helped Richardson proofread and edit the letter and printed it out for him and said he would look for a digital copy stored on an office computer.

Commissioner Milly Richardson had asked to have the issue placed on the agenda. She noted that copies of two different letters for NRBH and a response had been sent to the commissioners.