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“One email, dated April 20, 2018, ‘continued to acknowledge inaccurate information to the public and a small association of citizens about conflicts of interests that are accusatory and disparaging, without any investigation by the town council about these allegations.’”
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Before an influential planning commission was set to publicly debate throwing its support behind the 600-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline, the group’s executive director went back and forth with an employee of one of the pipeline’s chief proponents, according to emails obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. Robert Crum, the director, eventually provided Virginia Natural Gas a draft agenda item that requested the commission endorse the project. Upon learning of the emails, opponents of the contentious infrastructure project that would bring natural gas from West Virginia to Chesapeake were critical of the “best friend” access proponents of the pipeline seemed to be getting. They argued that it has happened all along the pipeline’s path. Crum defended how this process played out. He said the lead up to that October meeting was public, with several advertisements going out to promote the pipeline discussion. And, he said, everyone had a chance to be heard both before and during the meeting.
The Virginian-Pilot
Berryville Town Council members say Mayor Patricia Dickinson violated the town’s code of conduct through remarks — including a perceived threat — she made in emails concerning possible conflict of interest law infringements by town Recorder Jay Arnold. Seven malfeasance charges lodged against Arnold following a Virginia State Police probe were recently dropped by special prosecutors from the Winchester Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. Reading from a prepared statement during the meeting, Arnold referenced emails that Dickinson had sent to him since Oct. 11, 2017, regarding the conflict of interest allegations. One email, dated April 20, 2018, “continued to acknowledge inaccurate information to the public and a small association of citizens about conflicts of interests that are accusatory and disparaging, without any investigation by the town council about these allegations,” Arnold read. On Wednesday, Arnold said he and other council members think Dickinson violated the conduct code’s first provision. It states that “council will treat fellow councilors, citizens, staff, employees and committee members with respect, and will not make accusatory or disparaging remarks at official council or committee meetings.”
The Winchester Star
Even if a special grand jury improperly investigated the dealings of then-Portsmouth City Councilman Mark Whitaker and his church, it didn’t matter, a state appeals court ruled Tuesday. A jury of Whitaker’s peers heard all of the evidence at trial and found him guilty, three judges of the Virginia Court of Appeals noted in a 16-page opinion upholding Whitaker’s felony forgery convictions. Defense attorney Jon Babineau said his client plans to ask the Virginia Supreme Court to take up the case. Despite the fact the panel ruled against Whitaker, the attorney took solace in the nature — and length — of the court’s opinion.
The Virginian-Pilot
Lynchburg City Council voted to raise salaries for the mayor and city council members during Tuesday’s work session meeting. Council voted to change the Lynchburg City Code to include a $4,000 increase in compensation for both city council members and the mayor — a change that wouldn’t go live until July 1, 2020. Currently, council members make $10,000 annually and the mayor makes $12,000 annually without benefits. According to the Code of Virginia, cities with a population between 75,000 and 174,999 cannot pay council members or the mayor more than $23,000 and $25,000 a year, respectively.
The News & Advance
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, rejected the Richmond housing authority’s annual and five-year plans. Federally-funded housing authorities are required to submit these plans annually. VPM obtained the September 30 rejection letter through a public records request. According to the letter, “FHEO (HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity) recommends that the PHA (public housing authority) be cautioned to ensure that it is considering the identified housing needs of applicants and residents when making plans to redevelop its housing projects.” Angela Fountain, a spokesperson for RRHA said in an email that HUD’s rejection was the result of a “few technical deficiencies,” and called HUD’s request that RRHA provide additional information about the plan “routine.” However, a spokesperson for HUD denied Fountain’s claims, and said that “RRHA missed the plan was disapproved for substantive deficiencies”.
VPM
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