Letter To The Daily Press, Chris Hutson's Voting Record and Teresa Altemus

Dear Ms. Hubbard,

 

Your April 19^th article on Teresa Altemus appears to be just one more in a long line of articles written by daily press reporters responsible for the Gloucester County area that are biased to say the least. It appears that you wrote the article with much enthusiasm directed at supporting Gloucester Point Supervisor Chris Hutson in his reelection efforts, the unlawful and very costly actions of the Gloucester 40 and Gloucester’s former Commonwealths Attorney, while casting a negative cloud about Mrs. Altemus; even though she and the other targeted Supervisors were all found not guilty of all charges. In fact it was not Mrs. Altemus and the other targeted Supervisors who costGloucester County hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees. It was a group of people, who were all associated with the same local civic organization (Rotary Club) that cost Gloucester Countyall of that money. Did anyone at the Daily Press ever look into why such effort was put into attempting to have Mrs. Altemus and the other targeted Supervisors removed from office? I think not. What were the Rotary folks trying to keep hidden from the People and who was directing them? Those are questions that still should be asked. It is also noteworthy that each of the individuals quoted in your article, except for John Walsh (the local Republican Committee Chair) has been discredited or rejected byGloucester voters. Perhaps it is that group which is continually looking in the rear view mirror rather than forward through the windshield.

 

There was absolutely nothing in your article about Mrs. Altemus’ views on anything that matters to the majority of the voters inGloucester County. There were no quotes from anyone supporting Mrs. Altemus, but there were numerous quotes from the other direction. In fact your article, in its own subtle way, tends to steer the reader away from Mrs. Altemus in favor of Mr. Hutson. What or who is the driving force behind Mr. Hutson having that privilege? It certainly cannot be a result of his track record as Supervisor for the Gloucester Point, Virginia district.

 

I personally contacted you via email on June 3, 2014 about Mr. Hutson’s conflict of interest in the Terrapin Cove Sewer project, but nothing was ever reported by the Daily Press. During the May 20, 2014 Board of Supervisors meeting, Mr. Hutson voted to approve the Terrapin Cove Sewer Extension project.  Part of the project entailed installing public sewer along Laurel Drive at Gloucester Point at a total project cost of $773,638.  The vote was 4 in favor of the project and 3 against it. 

 

The following information was obtained from the GloucesterCounty online property database and is for property on Laureldrive that is owned by Mr. Hutson’s father and mother in-laws. 

Property Owner: THE BREEDEN TRUST

Owner Address:

PO BOX 122

GLOUCESTER POINT, VA 23062

RPC #: 32740

Physical Location:

1672 LAUREL DR

Magisterial District: Gloucester Point

Tax Map #: 051C 5 C 5

 

Mr. Hutson should have abstained from voting on the Terrapin Cove sewer project in accordance with Commonwealth ofVirginia Conflict of Interest laws.  Without publicly disclosing his interest in the project area property, Chris Hutson not only voted for the project, he also acted as the primary public body advocate during the design, review and procurement processes. Shortly after the BOS meeting this information was brought to the attention of all of the Supervisors via an email message. After the email notification was sent it was further realized that Mr. Hutson’s father in-law has served on the Gloucester Public Utilities Advisory Committee since 2004 and was reappointed for another four year term by Mr. Hutson in 2012. 

 

During the June 3, 2014 BOS meeting the Terrapin Cove project was brought back to the floor for further discussion by Supervisor Ashley Chrisco, on the premise that funding was uncertain due to the Commonwealth not yet approving its budget. That in itself was a cover up. The Terrapin Cove project was not a Commonwealth funded project and the County’s ability to fund it was uncertain from the projects conception. Mr. Hutson knew this all along. The BOS voted to delay the project start up and to pull funding from it until the Commonwealth approved its budget. Then, upon the recommendation of At Large Supervisor John Meyer, the Board directed that a certified letter be sent to each property owner within the project area asking the owners for a binding commitment to hook up to the sewer system if the project moves forward. This and other steps should have been accomplished before any other money was spent to design the sewer expansion. Due to the project area resident’s lack of hookup commitment, the Board ultimately voted to terminate the project with Mr. Hutson finally abstaining from the vote.  

 

At issue here is not only Mr. Hutson’s excessive spending practices, but also and most importantly, the conflict of interest votes he made. Mr. Hutson went so far when caught in the deception that he blamed his wife. His comment during the July 1, 2014 board meeting was, “I’m married, my wife doesn’t tell me anything.” What is even more curious about Mr. Hutson’s claim is he used the same excuse convicted former Governor McDonald was using at the time. One cannot help but wonder what else Mr. Hutson is hiding from the People with the assistance of the Daily Press.

 

In your article Mr. Hutson speaks about transparency. During a public hearing on October 7, 2014, Mr. Hutson essentially stated that the only way the Board of Supervisors knows what the People and Citizens want is through comments made at Board of Supervisor meetings during citizen comment periods. What about emails to the Board or to ones district representative, or phone calls, letters and face to face communications? I can honestly say Mr. Hutson has never responded to a single email I have sent to him and I live at Gloucester Point off of Terrapin Cove Road.

 

In your article Mr. Hutson touts how well the current Board is doing for the People of Gloucester, yet he has voted in opposition of the other board members on numerous occasions. The most recent occasion was his vote against the recently adopted 2016 County budget. Yet your article said nothing about Mr. Hutson’s voting record or his desire to raise Gloucester’s real estate tax rate from $.65 to $.72.

 

My question to you is; why did you write and why did the Daily Press publish such a biased article?

 

Kenneth E. Hogge, Sr.

Gloucester Point, Virginia

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Special Thank You To Glo Quips And Gazzette Journal

We want to take a moment to thank both Glo Quips as well as the Gloucester Mathews Gazette Journal for helping get the news out about Gloucester Animal Control Ordinances that are up for public hearing as they are about to be changed.

  One in particular we believe to be very illegal.  That code, 3-18, has been covered on this site multiple times.  We put together a flyer and started to distribute it through various means and we contacted both of the above papers as well as WXGM, who to the best of our knowledge has not covered the issue, and the Daily Press who also, to the best of our knowledge has not yet covered it.  It's not to say that the Daily Press will not cover the matter, but they have already had several days with the information sent to them.

  We are asking as many people who can, to come to the Board of Supervisors meeting being held this coming Wednesday Evening starting at 7:00 PM at the Gloucester Courthouse Circle, old colonial courthouse building to speak out against proposed ordinance 3-18.  There are so many issues with it.  For one, by asking county law enforcement to enforce this ordinance potentially puts them at risk for being maimed or even killed performing the duties covered under this ordinance.

  Another issue is that the county seeks to create requirements on manufacturers that not even the Federal government makes.  Air Conditioned vehicles.  If you do not have air conditioning in your vehicle, when temperatures reach 80 degrees or higher, and you leave an animal in a vehicle, you risk becoming a criminal for the rest of your life.

  The way this ordinance is being re worded, the back of pick up trucks, horse trailers and other vehicles will be required to have air conditioning in order to transport any animal for any reason when the temperature reaches 80 degrees or higher outside.  Animal Control could have deputies sitting at the local vets businesses just waiting for you or at the local feed stores such as Tractor Supply or Southern States.

Sec. 3-18. Animals in enclosed vehicles.

(a) It shall be unlawful to leave any animal in a vehicle without the
benefit of air conditioning when the outside temperature reaches
eighty (80) degrees Fahrenheit or greater.

(b) Any person who confines an animal in an unattended vehicle so as
to cause the animal to suffer from heat stress, shall be guilty of a
Class 1 misdemeanor. The animal control officer or other officer
shall have the authority to remove any animal found left in an
enclosed vehicle that appears to be suffering from heat stress.
The animal shall be provided immediate veterinary care. The
animal owner or custodian shall be responsible for all expenses
incurred during the removal of the animal or its subsequent
treatment and impoundment.

(c) In the event that the person responsible for the violation cannot be
ascertained, the registered owner of the vehicle, as required by
Chapter 6 of Title 46.2 of the Code of Virginia, shall constitute in
evidence a prima facie presumption that such registered owner
was the person who committed the violation." 

Now look at the above picture.  Gloucester says they can charge you up to $2,000.00 and put in you jail or both.  Plus, they say they have the legal right to break into your vehicle by whatever means and take your pet.  (Who knows what else may end up missing if they do this).  

  Also, they state right there in the ordinance, the animal only needs to appear to be suffering.  Who is to make the determination that the animal is actually potentially suffering?  A deputy who is also an officer of the court who will testify against you in court and you will need a lawyer who is also an officer of the court.  Those cards are stacked against you so you will not win even if you show your pet was never in any danger.  And you get a criminal record.

  There is no corresponding state code that we have been able to find despite looking all over for it.  Since there appears to be no corresponding state code, that makes this ordinance illegal based on the Dillon Rule.  

  This is anarchistic.  Anyone traveling into the area has no idea of Gloucester's ordinances.  Other localities do not have this ordinance as they know it's illegal, so it has not been an issue in other areas a traveler has already been through.  But they come here and park their car and leave their pet in the vehicle while the temperature is only nearing 80 degrees, animal control gets a call from a plant who snoops parking lots, and wham, instant victim to milk.  A speed trap.

  There are already codes on the state books that cover cruelty to animals.  If Gloucester wants this to be legal, they need to get it through on the state level.  Now we are not against the safety of animals, but let's keep within the laws of the state as required.  Stop making up anarchistic ordinances just for milking unsuspecting victims.  So we are asking everyone to stand up against this and let the Board of Supervisors know that you do not consent to this.  It's a violation of our rights and freedoms. 

If you can not attend the meeting, email the Board of Supervisors and let them know before this upcoming meeting.

BoS@gloucesterva.info 

There are also other illegal ordinances on the books here in Gloucester as well.  We will be posting the entire list very soon.

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Va. makes minimal progress on its climate change plan

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(Thank Goodness For Small Miracles:)

By Tamara Dietrich, Daily Press (Newport News, Va.)
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

Oct. 10--Virginia is one of only 14 states with a finalized plan to prepare for and adapt to climate change, but so far it has completed only two of its original 43 goals.

That's the assessment of the Georgetown Climate Center, which launched an online tool Thursday for the public to track where each state stands in addressing the widespread effects that scientists predict will come with a changing climate. The center is part of the Georgetown University Law Center in D.C.

"People want to know what their leaders are doing to prepare for climate change impacts, such as storms and rising seas," Vicki Arroyo, the center's executive director, said in a release. "This tool provides transparency and enables individuals and communities to track state progress."

(This crap is pretty funny until you realize these morons are serious about this stuff.)

http://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/2014/10/10/va-makes-minimal-progress-on-its-climate-change-plan-a-566001.html#.VEHTp_ldWSo

Link to the rest of the story.  Beware, it has a front end advertisement that you have to click past to read the rest.

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Gloucester, VA What The Daily Press Didn't Tell You, July, 2014

The Daily Press newspaper had an article shown above in the Sunday, July 6th, 2014 edition.  In that article a mother daughter family was brought up along with animals they once owned.  The Daily Press only gave you a part of that story and we contacted them with more information and yet they decided it was not in your best interest to ever hear the rest of the story.  The Mother Daughter team are the LaFrance's.  We covered the story from the very beginning here on this site, however we did not use their name during that time.  That nightmare began over a year and a half ago just days before Thanksgiving.  Gloucester Animal Control charged the family with Failure To Perform Duties of Ownership on 26 different charges.  Problem with that is that the title of the law was in violation with state code and hence not at all valid.  But that did not stop the county attorney from continuing to prosecute them under this disgraceful ordinance.

  The charges were dropped way down later in court, but in the mean time it forced very harsh and undue consequences on the LeFrance's and there is some serious questions as to harassment from Animal Control officers in regards to the LeFrance family.  We have a statement that was offered to the Daily Press and they did not want to even hear it and never covered the invalid charges from Animal Control that we showed them.  The statement is as follows:

"Mathews County knew about the exotic animals in question with the above article as we applied for and were given a Mathews County business license.  To get this license we had to disclose that we were running an exotic animal education business and what animals were involved.  The business had both a USDA and Virginia Fish and Wildlife permits which meant regular inspections for quality care and animal health.  The business had a great reputation and performed programs in schools, nursing homes, churches and private programs in five counties.  We used small and gentle exotics of all species including gentle reptiles and everything was well received everywhere we went."

  Animal Control of Gloucester came in and inspected the  LeFrance's animals while the LeFrance's were in the process of moving out of one place and preparing to move to another.  Literally packing up a truck when Animal Control came onto the property.  Also, the circumstances behind the horses being taken while the LeFrance's were in Mathews County are also very highly suspect as to what happened there.

If the local papers are not willing to tell you the entire story, then we will.  And we are going to start doing so on a regular basis.

Governor McAuliffe continues to push for a better transportation system and a stronger Virginia economy

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Good Morning,

I wanted to make sure you saw the Virginian-Pilot editorial and Daily Press article below highlighting the Governor’s continued efforts to improve Virginia’s transportation system and grow our economy.

Reforming Port Authority -- again

The Virginian-Pilot Editorial Board

Gov. Terry McAuliffe's decision last week to reshape the Virginia Port Authority's board marks the latest effort to correct the bustling port's financial condition and stabilize an economic juggernaut rocked by turmoil in recent years.

By replacing five of the board's 11 appointed members, including the board's chairman and vice chairman, McAuliffe has implemented significant change. The scope of that change, however, is designed to inflict less disruption than the 2011 overhaul by his predecessor, Bob McDonnell.

McDonnell replaced 10 of 11 members that year, an unprecedented move among a series of abrupt changes during his term that hindered the port's finances and operations. The former governor's inability to articulate a clear vision for the port, and stick to it, injected uncertainty that adversely affected business.

In a span of three years, his administration negotiated a 20-year lease of APM's sophisticated terminal in Portsmouth, sought to purchase the terminal outright, then entertained bids for companies to operate state-owned terminals in Norfolk, Portsmouth and Newport News.

The privatization plan collapsed last year, after the port authority board rejected the offers and stuck with Virginia International Terminals Inc., the quasi-public organization that built the port into the third-busiest on the East Coast.

The tumult of the past few years at the port, however, provides no excuse for the continuing financial losses posted by the port. McAuliffe has pointed out the losses were greater than previously disclosed, and he has leaned heavily on the port authority's leadership, including new Executive Director John Reinhart, to improve its fiscal condition.

Reinhart has helped shepherd some organizational changes that should slow the losses, but more work will be needed to help the port realize the profits that ought to come with the recent record cargo volume.

The newly appointed members to the port authority's board include names recognizable across Hampton Roads and Virginia: G. Robert Aston Jr., CEO of Suffolk-based TowneBank; former state Del. Alan Diamonstein; Gary McCollum, Cox Communications senior vice president; John Milliken, chairman of the port authority's board until 2011; and Val McWhorter, a Northern Virginia attorney.

Their breadth of experience and knowledge should help to provide effective oversight of a hub that supports more than 340,000 jobs and brings in $40 billion-plus in revenue to public coffers each year.

VDOT fast-tracking I-64 widening project, hoping to ease Hampton Roads traffic

By Cathy Grimes – The Daily Press

On Tuesday Jim Utterback, Virginia Department of Transportation Hampton Roads District director, and consultant project manager Steven Chapin briefed James City County supervisors on the state of the $144 million Interstate 64 widening project at their monthly meeting.

With both Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne pushing the effort to alleviate congested traffic in Hampton Roads, the project is gathering steam.

It will widen I-64 to six lanes from the Jefferson Avenue exit to just south of the Lee Hall exit, roughly 5.5 miles. The new 12-foot lanes will be added inside the existing east and westbound lanes, and the agency will widen six bridges along the route.

Utterback said the department issued a request for qualifications and has had five bidders respond. He told the James City supervisors the department hopes to issue request for proposals this summer "with the goal of awarding the contract this December."

VDOT spokeswoman Jennifer Gwaltney said construction may begin in early 2015. VDOT officials estimate the project will be complete in Winter 2018.

During the presentation, Chapin said the agency is fast-tracking the project to "provide as much congestion relief as possible as quick as possible."

He noted the Federal Highway Administration issued its record of decision on the project on Monday, and VDOT will hold a design public hearing on April 30 at Woodside High School in Newport News. The three-hour event begins at 4 p.m.

Gwaltney said the hearing gives community residents a chance "to review the project exhibits on display and to provide comments and/or suggestions on the proposed project."

The Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization board ranked the widening effort first on its list of projects on which to use new regional transportation revenue made possible by the 2013 transportation law. The money comes from regional sales and gas taxes. The HRTPO voted to use $44 million of the new funds to extend the widening project to Lee Hall from its original termination point of Fort Eustis Boulevard. State and federal funds also are part of the mix.

Utterback said the extension will ease problems when the interstate narrows back to four lanes as opposed to doing so near the Fort Eustis Boulevard exit.

Chapin said the project will affect property owned by Newport News and will require about 15 acres for stormwater management. Additionally VDOT may install sound barriers along some sections of the road.

Local officials have expressed some concerns about proposed landscape designs for the widened interstate. Chapin said the median currently in place ranges between 64 feet to 88 feet wide. VDOT plans to use three landscape techniques on medians after widening: a mix of shrubs and trees with concrete barriers on two stretches, grass with no barriers on one wide section south of the Fort Eustis Boulevard exits and double guardrail barriers on most of the rest of the road.

Newport News officials had expressed concern about the proposals when VDOT met with them at a recent City Council Work Session.

"This is our gateway into the city and it's really important we show off," said City Manager Jim Bourey. "It makes a huge difference if we have landscaping."

At the James City County Board meeting, Supervisor John McGlennon echoed Bourey's words, saying it was important to have "an attractive entryway" to the county from the south.

Utterback said VDOT is looking at other interstates and considering possible low-maintenance landscape treatments to improve the appearance of the medians.

"We're still early on," Utterback said.

VDOT spokesman Ron Watrous said the agency will work closely with the localities "to deliver a project that meets regional travel needs and inspires a sense of pride in Hampton Roads communities."

The widening project is the first of three segments that eventually will widen I-64 to Exit 234 north of Williamsburg. VDOT officials estimate the entire project will cost is $583 million.

Grimes can be reached by phone at 757-247-4758. Daily Press reporter Michael W. Shapiro contributed to this story.

Interstate-64 widening public hearing

When: 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 30

Where: Woodside High School, 13450 Woodside Lane, Newport News

What: VDOT officials will present an update on the project and potential designs for landscaping and bridge widening.

There will be time for questions and answers, and officials will be available to discuss the project.

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Gloucester, VA BoS Meeting Notes and Spreadsheets, March, 2014

Gloucester, VA BoS Meeting Notes for March 18th, 2014 from Chuck Thompson

Gloucester, VA County Budget Spreadsheet from Chuck Thompson

Gloucester, VA School Budget Compiled Spreadsheet. from Chuck Thompson

Above is posted once again the video from the most recent Board of Supervisors meeting held March, 18th, 2014 with notes from local resident Mr Mowry as well as spreadsheets provided by Mr Mowry showing allocations of taxpayer dollars as utilized by the county as well as the school board.

What is troublesome is the fact that both the county and the school board have increasing wages each and every year.  In this economy where most people have not seen raises in years or very little in the way of raises, county employees have been enjoying wage increases all along and they are budgeted for more over the coming years.  We know Federal employees who have not received wage increases in years until this year and all they are getting this year is a one percent increase and for 2015, they are only scheduled for another one percent increase.

  The Daily Press just did a comparison story on counties throughout Hampton Roads and most counties have cut payroll, employees, and halted raises.  That report started with the Sunday March 9th, 2014 paper.   How are Gloucester officials justifying these pay raises in this economy?

  It looks to us like there are many areas that can and should be cut back and or even eliminated.  The single largest tax hike in recent history if not in all American history has hit most Americans and it's well known as Obamacare.  How much more pressure can people take?  

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Gloucester candidate resides in 372-square-foot house

By Matt Sabo, msabo@dailypress.com

GLOUCESTER — Just three years after moving back to Gloucester, Marcia Mickle is running for a seat on the Board of Supervisors and would be the only member who lives on the water — literally.

Mickle, who grew up in Gloucester and is a graduate of Gloucester High School, said she lives on a boat tied to her private dock in the Severn area of the county. She is also the owner of the smallest house of any of the candidates, or board members for that matter.

Mickle owns and lives in a 372-square-foot elevated cottage that she said in an email — she declined to answer phone messages and asked for questions to be sent to her by email —is "very much like living on a boat or a studio apartment."

In a three-way race for the York District seat on the Board of Supervisors, Mickle is the newest resident to Gloucester in the election. The other candidates are Phil Bazzani, a former member of the Gloucester County Planning Commission, and Graham Blake, a former member of the Board of Supervisors who last served on the seven-member board in 2003.

Although she has only returned recently to Gloucester, Mickle touts her long ties to the community.

"I was born and raised here and moved back after my husband retired from the Navy, but I have always maintained a place here," Mickle said. "My family has been here forever. I still live on the land my father gave me as a wedding present."

Mickle became registered to vote in Gloucester in June 2011, according to records in the Gloucester County Voter Registrar's Office. She listed as her home address 10202 Margaret Lyell Road in the Severn area of Gloucester. The land is an 18-acre parcel given to her as a wedding gift by her father, she said.

Mickle moved to Gloucester from Hampton around September 2010, she said.

"I own a house in Hampton that was my residence from 2007 until 2010," Mickle said. "I do not live there at all."

She lived aboard her boat at the York River Yacht Haven's pier 6 until September 2011, when she moved her boat to her private dock at 10202 Margaret Lyell Road, she said.

On Aug. 6, 2012, Mickle obtained a building permit for a 372-square-foot "summer cottage" to replace a one-bedroom cottage that had burned down, according to records in the Gloucester County Codes Compliance Department. A certificate of occupancy was issued on Oct. 23, 2012.

The fire that destroyed her previous cottage occurred on Feb. 14, 2011, Mickle said.

"It was an extensive brush fire that burned over 120 acres of land," she wrote in an email.

Her cottage is "small but it has everything needed to live including a bedroom/living area, a kitchen and a bathroom," Mickle said by email. "I stayed there after my knee replacement because it was more conducive to extensive therapy after surgery."

Mickle was appointed to the Gloucester County Flood Plain Management Committee on Oct. 4, 2012. The 16-member Flood Plain Management Committee includes at least eight residents, business owners or property owners from areas in the flood plain.

The committee annually evaluates and reviews the county's Flood Plain Management plan, analyzing the county's existing coastal flood management practices and providing feasible solutions to strengthen the overall flood management system to lessen damage caused by coastal flooding, according to the county's website.

On Mickle's statement of economic interest that all candidates are required to file, she lists "HPT LLC" as an employer that pays her or a member of her immediate family salary or wages in excess of $10,000 annually. Yet a spokesman for the State Corporation Commission said HPT LLC has not existed since the end of 2003.

Mickle said in an email sent on Saturday she will ask her attorney and accountant to provide documentation for the information, although it wasn't supplied to the Daily Press in time for this story.

Mickle's stepson, Jayson Mickle, owns Hampton Pipe and Tobacco, which has a store in Gloucester. Marcia Mickle said she is not involved with running the company. Retired from surveying and civil design, Mickle said she is the owner of Hawk Pointe Oyster Farm.

Gloucester County, Mickle said, needs to "grow existing businesses, attract new ones and nurture local entrepreneurs. The people of Gloucester don't need more taxes. We don't need Gloucester county to impose excessive limitations on private real property. We have enough rules in place already."

http://www.dailypress.com/news/gloucester-county/dp-nws-gloucester-candidate-mickle-0801-20130806,0,7524683.story?obref=obinsite  Link back to the Daily Press where this story comes from.

Our Notes;  We think it is ridiculous that anything was even brought up about where this candidate lives or the size of the house.  If it were a 6,000 square foot house, nothing would have been said at all.  We would like to hear from this candidate.  Looks more like the type of person who would do a lot of good for the county. 

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