Transparency News 8/29/17

Tuesday, August 29, 2017



State and Local Stories

The Charlottesville City Council will meet in a closed-session meeting at 2 p.m. Wednesday to “discuss the performance and discipline of an elected official.” A source in City Hall said Monday that the councilors requested that the mayor call the meeting. Several hours after the council met in a closed-session last Thursday, a confidential nine-page document was leaked. In response to questions about the memo, members of the council confirmed that they requested City Manager Maurice Jones explain why a number of critical issues related to the Aug. 12 Unite the Right rally had not been addressed. On Saturday, responding to questions about the leaked document, Jones released a point-by-point rebuttal of nearly all the assertions about his handling of communications, public safety oversight and planning ahead of the rally. The unexpected disclosure of confidential material has left some councilors questioning whether it was done by a fellow councilor.
Daily Progress

The Pulaski County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution Monday to display the words “In God We Trust” on official county property. The motion, which carried 5-0, follows a national trend that in some cases has sparked a debate on the separation of church and state. Nearly 700 units of local government during the last 15 years have elected to carry or display the United States national motto on official government property. Adopted in 1956, the phrase has been used on U.S. currency since 1864 and is engraved above the Senate Chamber and the Speaker’s dais in congress.
Roanoke Times

Elkton’s mayor is likely to remain its acting town manager well into next year. Mayor Wayne Printz, who’s been filling the town manager’s post on a temporary basis since February 2016, said Monday that Town Council has suspended its search for a new town manager. The plan is to readvertise the position early next year, with hiring a manager perhaps pushed off until the next budget year begins July 1.
Daily News Record

A $6 million lawsuit against Sheriff Mike Chapman (R), Loudoun County and the Board of Supervisors has been transferred from Loudoun County Circuit Court to federal court in Alexandria. The suit, filed by former Loudoun County Sheriff's Office detective Mark McCaffrey, claims McCaffrey was wrongfully terminated from his position after supporting Chapman's primary election challenger in 2015. The former LCSO detective says his termination violates the U.S. and Virginia constitutions. 
Loudoun Times-Mirror



National Stories
​

After a shuttle car operator was killed at a West Virginia coal mine public documents show its operator has been cited and fined by state regulators. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports eight pages made public Monday during a state Coal Mine Health and Safety board meeting say Pinnacle Mining Co. was cited following an investigation of the 44-year-old miner's death.
McClatchy



Editorials/Columns


In a public press release prior to the memo, Mr. Signer cited his concern that he was not allowed access to the police command center. His statement alleged that Chief Thomas asked him to “stay out of [his] way” on Aug. 12. In his rebuttal, Mr. Jones points out that the command center was a physically small space; that was one reason for the denial of access. However, Mr. Signer does have a point. “Elected officials like me can’t be barred from necessary information and how to talk about it. That’s disorganized,” he said. A national news story was breaking all around us. The mayor was being asked for information; in front of the television cameras, he had to admit he didn’t have the information. At one point, his expression revealed his frustration, although his statements to the press continued to be measured and cogent. When a crisis of this magnitude is unfolding, it’s understandable that all available law enforcement personnel should be employed in the first-line defense of the citizenry. However, the need to get accurate information out to the public is also of importance. (Perhaps that could have helped squash some of the rumors before they got started.) God forbid that there be a “next time” — but if there is, police should assign a spokesperson to the command center and establish a hotline to the mayor or other need-to-know officials.
Daily Progress