Gloucester, VA Board of Supervisors &School Board Joint Meeting With Notes, Sept. 2014

Open letter to Gloucester County.

In the July and first September Board of Supervisors (BOS)  meeting I spoke during the citizen comment period and gave the BOS a list of things they need to do to make Gloucester County "The Land of the Life Worth Living."

Based on the grades on the two report cards I was told that I should provide you with ways to improve your grades. 

Before I do that I have to make a comment about the September 16^th joint meeting.  Does anyone on the School Administrative staff have a degree of any kind?  The staff went into joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors totally unprepared.  I know I would not have any degree if I went into a test as unprepared as the School Board Staff was last night.  With the salaries we pay can’t we get someone with a degree or at least someone that knows why they are going to a meeting as employees?  If I was a member of the School Board I would be embarrassed.

I am going to look at the second item that I am grading the BOS with:  Hold Department Heads and Supervisors to high standards and get rid of them when they break the rules.  You cannot hold lower level employees to high standards if they are not practiced at the higher levels.

There were numerous examples provided in the two September meetings.

I will start with the meeting on the 16^th.  The School Board staff did a great job of not having prepared anything in my opinion with a standard answer that we will get back with you later with an answer.  Do not have any more meetings with them if they do not come prepared as it's a total waste of your time.  If they do, tell them the meeting is over and that you will develop a budget for them without their input.  You give them about $10 million less than they want one year and maybe they will get the hint they need to provide open and honest communications with you.  I do not think it will happen a second time.

In my opinion the County Staff is equally lazy and predictable and like to talk in circles for several minutes without answering your questions hoping you will forget the question or answer they are not responsible.

First, tell them you want an executive summary answer, 20 words or less, and if you need more information you will ask another question again with a short answer.  I like what Mr. Meyer said about the flood document that it needed to be a pamphlet that anyone could read quickly and not a novel as it currently exist.  Hold the staff accountable and make them reduce the document to a size anyone can read and understand; we are not paying them by the pound.  What are they trying to hide?  If it is above the 6^th – 8^th grade reading level they are trying to hide something.  This is the level that most documents are written that are readily used by most of the population.  Above this level it is a coffee table book that is not read.

Second, when you have employees that tell you they are not responsible for what they are presenting to you?  Tell them it is with great sorrow that you accept their resignation effective immediately?  I think it was an ms ditzy that said that; I would have to go back to the agenda to get the persons actual name.  If they are responsible for preparing the document and tell you something like that then they are very much overpaid and need to leave.

Third, when they do this;  stop the speaker telling them they are done; then ask Ms. Garton to get someone qualified to make the presentation.

If you use these suggestions I do not think you will continue to have problems getting answers and employees giving you the required respect.

I am a tax payer and you need to be held accountable to “We the People”.

I have a voter registration card and know how to use it.

Respectfully submitted by

Wayne Crews

Gloucester Point District

P.S.  The school population is increasing because of the new superintendent? What has he done for us for him to make this kind of statement and can he provide proof he is responsible?  You have to go to the meetings or watch them on TV.  More entertaining than anything else on TV in the time slot.  I think the meeting made the top Nelson rating for the night in the time slot if not it should have.

York Herald 2014 11, By Phil Bazzani, GC BoS 

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• Gloucester, VA Animal Control Breaking and Entering? What About "YOUR" Rights? (Part 3)
• Gloucester, VA Board of Supervisor's Meeting, Video and Notes, July, 2014

Gloucester, Virginia; This Is Warner Country, Re Elect US Senator Mark Warner

Satire Poster Series.

Gloucester Main Street Preservation Trust, Gloucester, Virginia

Satire Poster Series.

Gloucester Main Street Association, Gloucester, Virginia

Satire Poster Series.

Gloucester, VA Court System, Citizens Rights

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Gloucester, VA Illegal Park Regulations Violating 2nd Amendment Rights?

Unauthorized Persons Shall NOT Carry Concealed Weapons, Nor Shall They Have On Or About Their Person, Dangerous Or Deadly Weapons.

Can anyone say 2nd Amendment Violation here?  One question is who is an authorized person?  Only certain specific law enforcement?  Certain military as well?  All others even if you have a concealed weapons permit are not authorized?  The term is way to vague.  The rest also means open carry is a county violation?  That's what one attorney we contacted seems to believe.  Stick around for the rest of this story coming soon as it should prove to get very interesting.

  This sign is at the Gloucester Point Beach.

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Gloucester, VA Animal Control Breaking and Entering? What About "YOUR" Rights? (Part 2)

On Sunday, August 24th, 2014 we did a story about how Animal Control Deputy Laura Dickie was about ready to break a window on a vehicle to remove an animal from a car because the animal was left in the car by itself and without air conditioning and would have been removed to an animal control truck for transportation, without air conditioning.  Well, that story by itself is horrific, however, can anyone actually blame the Animal Control officer for doing a job she has been told she must do?  Who is actually to blame?  What if she had actually broken in the window and was seriously hurt by doing so or maimed by the dog in the vehicle?  Who would have been at fault?

  Again, in our view, the local ordinance, 3-18 is itself highly illegal.  The above poster highly misleading and posted in the following locations, Wal Mart front doors, Tractor Supply, and Dollar Tree.  Who approved these posters?  Ted Wilmot is the county attorney who wrote this law or at least finalized approval for the Board of Supervisors to vote on and approve.  That was done in February, 2013.  4 present Board members approved that and now we have 3 new board members who had nothing to do with this.

  So that would mean the Ted Wilmot and 4 present Board of Supervisors would then be responsible for any harm that comes to any Animal Control deputy who follows this insane ordinance and gets hurt or even killed in the process?  There is also a great deal of responsibility by the County Administrator and Assistant Administrator for allowing this crazy ordinance to be on the books.

  Again, here is a recap of that ordinance;

 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 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.

(Ord. of 7-1-2008(1), § (2); Ord. of 2-5-2013(1))

There is also a certain degree of fault by each animal control officer as each one is required to know state code and they should also know that if a local ordinance is out of compliance with state code, then the local ordinance is not legal according to the Dillon Rule.  Virginia is considered a Dillon Rule state.  It seems rather clear that the county has no issues with maintaining this ordinance and will continue to prosecute anyone and everyone they can with such until someone gets seriously hurt, sued, or even worse, killed.  Why?  Because the county thinks they can milk this for some serious money in our view.  The safety of employees?  Well, they can be replaced.  

Mark Warner for US Senator

By:  This Ad Not Yet Paid For

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Abolish the Economic Development Authority of Gloucester County, Virginia

According to the Bylaws of the Economic Development Authority of Gloucester County, Virginia (EDA); the EDA was created in 2010.  Since its creation, the EDA has done very little to fulfill its purpose of promoting overall economic growth and stability within Gloucester County.  Since its inception the EDA has focused the majority of its efforts on supporting the interests of a select few individuals and a few nonprofit organizations like the Gloucester Main Street Association, the Gloucester Community Foundation and the Main Street Gloucester Preservation Trust. 

 In comparison, very little has been done in the best interest of Gloucester’s overall citizenry and economic stability.  A new plan should be devisedto retain and allow for the expansion of existing businesses and to attract new, clean, responsible, commercial and industrial enterprises which will best contribute to the economic well being of the community and the preservation of its natural resources.  The existing EDA should be completely abolished and economic development matters placed within the County’s planning department until a new unbiased Authority with a clear and transparent path of direction is created.  We the People of Gloucester County have grown tired of watching our tax dollars being squandered.

 

Kenneth E. Hogge, Sr.

Gloucester Point, Virginia

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HCOD Stifles Gloucester Business Growth

During the few years the toll was removed from the Coleman Bridge, Gloucester experienced a growth spurt that will not be experienced again until un-tolled access returns. That growth spurt was used as justification for creating the HCOD. In reality the HCOD was established to satisfy aesthetic and financial gain desires of a few rich persons. What the HCOD actually did was stifle business growth and remove control of property use from the owners. How does this benefit the people of Gloucester or prospective businesses? It doesn't. During the time the HCOD was set in place the economy was good and people were not paying attention to government. Fortunately, more people are paying attention now.

In a recent Gloucester-Mathews Gazette Journal opinion letter David Peebles mentioned the numerous years of support of the HCOD by the planning commission, board of supervisors and administration. Statistics indicate we the people have not seen any significant return from the implementation and enforcement of the HCOD. In fact, the HCOD has caused the County to lose prospective and established businesses.

Mr. Peebles’ assertion that the EDA, administration and the HCOD are responsible for the existence of good restaurants, shopping centers and other businesses in Gloucester seems to be somewhat distorted. The truth of the matter is; population growth was the driving factor behind those businesses coming to Gloucester.

Mr. Peebles also implied the old Page site is now available to become part of a 100 acre business park. The citizens of Gloucester have an urgent need for a permanent place to take care of and store school buses, county vehicles, grounds equipment and to house the public utilities department. The old Page site is the most practical and financially sensible location to construct such a public infrastructure facility.

I agree with the current efforts being made to overhaul the HCOD. If it is done the right way; property owners will regain control over the use of their property and there will be more opportunity for prospective businesses.

Kenneth E. Hogge, Sr.

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Gloucester, VA Waste Fraud and Abuse Petition For County Government

We have recently created a petition that we have sent to the Board of Supervisors and are publishing it here for everyone to see.  You can help by sending a copy of this petition to the Board of Supervisors.  All you have to do is copy the petition below into an email and send it to the email address listed below.  Be sure to add your name to the bottom of the petition.

  It's that simple.  This can save all of us taxpayers a good deal of money if properly put into place.

We The People:

Petition:

Gloucester County, Virginia

Board of Supervisors

This is a petition to request that you consider the hiring of a Waste Fraud and Abuse specialist to investigate areas of such throughout county government as well as school board government.  It is believed that a person hired to do so can cover both sides of county government.  The reasons for such are as follows.

§ 15.2-2511.2. Duties of local government auditors.

A. As used in this section:

"Abuse" means the excessive or improper use of something, or the employment of something in a manner contrary to the natural or legal rules for its use; the intentional destruction, diversion, manipulation, misapplication, maltreatment, or misuse of resources owned or operated by the locality; or extravagant or excessive use so as to abuse one's position or authority.

"Fraud" means the intentional deception perpetrated by an individual or individuals, or an organization or organizations, either internal or external to local government, that could result in a tangible or intangible benefit to themselves, others, or the locality or could cause detriment to others or the locality. Fraud includes a false representation of a matter of fact, whether by words or by conduct, by false or misleading statements, or by concealment of that which should have been disclosed, which deceives and is intended to deceive.

"Waste" means the intentional or unintentional, thoughtless or careless expenditure, consumption, mismanagement, use, or squandering of resources owned or operated by the locality to the detriment or potential detriment of the locality. Waste also includes incurring unnecessary costs because of inefficient or ineffective practices, systems, or controls.

B. Any fraud, waste, and abuse auditor appointed by the local governing body of any county, city, or town having a population of at least 10,000, or any town constituting a separate school division regardless of its population, who by charter, ordinance, or statute has responsibility for conducting an investigation of any officer, department or program of such body, shall be responsible for administering a telephone hotline, and a website, if cost-effective, through which employees and residents of the locality may report anonymously any incidence of fraud, waste, or abuse committed by any such officer, or within any such department or program, of that body. Such auditor may inform employees of the locality of the hotline and website, if any, and the conditions of anonymity, through the conspicuous posting of announcements in the locality's personnel newsletters, articles in local newspapers issued daily or regularly at average intervals, hotline posters on local employee bulletin boards, periodic messages on local employee payroll check stubs, or other reasonable efforts.

Such auditor shall determine the authenticity of every allegation received on the hotline or website and ensure that investigation and resolution activities are undertaken in response to any such authentic allegation in the most cost-effective and confidential manner available; provided, however, that the officer shall assign responsibility for investigation and resolution to other investigative and law-enforcement personnel where such responsibility is prescribed by general law and where appropriate to avoid duplicating or replacing existing investigation and resolution functions.

(2006, c. 597.)

It is believed that such an auditor can and will save the county taxpayers a substantial sum of money.

Very Truly;

Now just put your name and send to BoS@gloucesterva.info.

Gloucester Board of Supervisors July 1 2014 Meeting Open Letter to the Citizens of Gloucester, VA

“For the Common Good. “

Your meetings seem to get more interesting overtime.

Can anyone show me in the US or Virginia Constitution where you can take money from someone and give it to others?

If you have not seen this meeting it is available on Mr. Thompson’s website.  I cannot do justice to what was shared in the meeting.  But here are a few highlights to wet your appetite.

After listening to Mr. Douglas S. Meredith, we should consider getting an Economic Development Director to look out for the interest of the county. Not sure what he is looking out for besides himself?

Mr. Hutson thanks for sharing your tell tale with us when you are less than totally honest.

Mr. Chriscoe why did you get a text message just before the Woodville vote, was it voting instructions?  We were so sorry to see that the meeting was keeping you from something important that night.  We will help someone else get elected into your position next time around so you will not have to waste your time dealing with something as unimportant as county business.  Why did you use the term “funneling money” sound less than honest for one of our Supervisors in an official capacity?

Back to giving away our tax money.  You spent most of the meeting trying to look out for the tax payers and not wasting our money.  You had many energetic and passionate discussions about saving taxpayers money until the end of the meeting.  I am not sure what happened: you had not given away any money; you were tired; or you had money you had to get rid of before the end of the meeting?  I fully agree that our watermen are hard working and need to be looked after, but what law says to take from the many and give to the few (Haven’t we provided them a dock at taxpayers expense?)? How is this helping the whole county?  You did not give outhouses to any other hard working groups like construction workers, landscapers, or VIMS PHDs that are forced to wear short paints to work in the summer because of the heat?

I am not a lawyer and cannot give legal advice.  Our founding fathers used common sense and Christian scripture when establishing our founding documents. 

“For the Common Good. “

Sincerely,

Alexander James Jay

P.S.  "I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it." --Benjamin Franklin, On the Price of Corn and Management of the Poor, 1766

"Be not intimidated ... nor suffer yourselves to be wheedled out of your liberties by any pretense of politeness, delicacy, or decency. These, as they are often used, are but three different names for hypocrisy, chicanery and cowardice." --John Adams (1765)

What The Gloucester Mathews Gazette Journal Didn't Tell You, July 10th, 2014

New Superintendent Lays Out "Plan of Entry" is the title of the one article in the paper pictured above.  We are not going to reprint the article by any means.  If you have already read the article, then there is no sense is rehashing it.  If you have not read the article, then you can always go to the newspaper's website.

  What we have a problem with here and everywhere else we have looked including the Gloucester School Board website is who the stakeholders are claimed to be and mainly, who is left out.  And what is the most disturbing is exactly who has been left out.  No reason to delay who has been left out, it's the taxpayers.  The taxpayers, those of us who pay for the entire system are not even considered stakeholders in education.  But don't take our word for it, look at the plan for yourself.  Exactly how do the folks at the local newspaper manage to miss the obvious right in front of them and not ask the questions as to why the taxpayers are not considered stakeholders?

Gloucester, VA School Board Sup Plan of Entry July 2014 from Chuck Thompson

Now one has to ask, does the local school board think that little of the taxpayers?  It would appear to be since they are wasting your tax dollars as fast as they possibly can.  We continue to see the waste each week.

 Vehicle number 273, Driver, D Miller, School Board, Department, Facilities Services, Reports to Dave Miller, July 21st, 2014 time, 7:21 AM.  Location spotted, Hardees Restaurant.  This is a very clear pattern of behavior for this driver.

The above vehicle we still can not get the number on but again, the vehicle belongs to the Public School system.  July 21st, at 8:33AM.

Vehicle number 284, Public Schools, July 21st, 2014.  Time, 9:17 AM.  Went inside McDonald's to have breakfast.  This was not even a drive through quick order.  This is Dave Miller the person in charge of Facilities Services.  No wonder his employees are all over the place.  They are only doing what their boss is doing but not as bad as he does.

  Maybe the Board of Supervisors should take away one hundred thousand dollars of funding per school board vehicle seen in local stores, restaurants and banks where the employees are using government vehicles for personal use, per incident.  We highly recommend the county seriously consider installing GPS tracking in all county vehicles.  This way, if a county employee is seen being someplace they do not belong, the county can actually shut down the vehicle on the employee.  This way the county also always knows where all the employees are and what they should be doing.

Now another area where this gets even worse in our view is with the new contract between the superintendent and the school board.  If you have not read that contract, maybe you should.  See section V on page 3.  The school board is allowing the new superintendent to use a government vehicle for personal use.  Never mind that this appears to be prohibited at the local level, state level and federal level as well.

Walter R. Clemons 3 Year Contract (7-1-2014-6-30-2017) Gloucester, VA from Chuck Thompson

We have filed a complaint with the IRS over the above contract as it appears to be very much in violation with IRS codes as well as Federal, State and local laws, codes and or ordinances.  Maybe we can stop this madness and send a message to the school board that we will not tolerate their complete disregard for the taxpayers and their continuous waste of our money.  We have also included the personal use of government vehicles in the complaint as this needs to end.

Governor McAuliffe Announces 70 New Jobs for Virginia Beach

~ Canada Metal (Pacific) Ltd. to establish first U.S. manufacturing 

Adapted from Wikipedia's VA county maps by Seth Ilys. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

operation~    

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that Canada Metal (Pacific) Ltd., a Canada-based manufacturer of marine and industrial products, will invest $3 million to establish its first U.S. manufacturing operation in the City of Virginia Beach. The project will create 70 new jobs over three years.

Speaking about the announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “Having an international company like Canada Metal (Pacific) Ltd. select Virginia Beach for its first U.S. manufacturing operation is testament to the Commonwealth’s ability to compete on a global playing field. My administration is committed to growing advanced manufacturing jobs that will help boost Virginia’s economy. We welcome Canada Metal to Virginia Beach and the Commonwealth.”

“The advanced manufacturing industry is thriving in Virginia, and we are pleased that Canada Metal (Pacific) Ltd. will establish its first U.S. manufacturing operation in the Commonwealth,” said Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “Virginia Beach is a leader in the U.S. manufacturing revival, and offers a skilled workforce, strategic location and the necessary infrastructure for Canada Metal to succeed and expands its market reach.”

Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Canada Metal (Pacific) manufactures and markets marine and industrial products and is the world’s largest producer of diecast marine anodes, some of which are used for offshore oil pipelines. The company also manufactures and markets the Octopus line of marine autopilot drive systems.

“CMP conducted a very comprehensive investigation as to where to establish its U.S. operation,” said Jim Stuart, Vice President of Business Development, Canada Metal (Pacific). “Virginia Beach came out ‘head and shoulders’ above all other locations due to its highly skilled labor force, excellent logistics, and, most importantly, having a culture that personifies our desire to be fully integrated within the community in which we conduct our business.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development to secure the project for Virginia. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. The company will also be eligible for Sales and Use tax exemptions on manufacturing equipment.

“Virginia Beach has added another international manufacturer to our expanding global business community,” said Warren D. Harris, Director of Virginia Beach Economic Development. “This company aligns perfectly with our aggressive growth in advanced manufacturing. We are increasingly finding that international companies understand the benefits of locating here with an abundance of highly skilled workers and easy access to international markets through the Ports of Virginia.”