Looks like the council has some issues to work on! There has been no forward movement on advertising for a town manager. Mayor Campbell and Councilman Adams were not in attendance at last night’s meeting.
There seems to be an issue about whether all employees are being treated the same across the board. Hasn’t the town been dealing with this type of problem for several years? Towns cannot make one set of rules for a section of the employees and not apply them to all employees.
Due to the recent vandalism and robberies it has been brought up that putting a curfew in place may help with some of the problems. Juveniles 17 years and under would have to be off the streets, or in the presence of an adult guardian, or risk being cited for violating curfew. Gladys, Virginia Beach, Alta Vista and other communities have put curfews in place and have seen as much as a 70% decrease in vandalism and theft. (Thank you, Mrs. Meisenbach for this information)
I’ve placed a new poll up about this matter; so let me know what you think.
It seems the Mayor and "Acting As A Town Manager" had a problem with there being a candidates' forum without their permission, and applied pressure to a local chamber board member, so the Brookneal Chamber of Commerce has withdrawn their offer to host a “Meet the Candidates Forum”.
Seems like the fact that there are two write-in candidates interested in running has caused a frenzy at the town office. I hope the Forum can simply be hosted by someone else so the community can meet the people interested in running for council.
I have to wonder why anyone working for the town has the ability to shut down a political forum. Aren't town employees supposed to be neutral, and not show political favoritism? And the "Acting As A Town Manager" can't even vote since he's a convicted felon, so why does he care if there is a forum?
With all the broken promises the town's people have heard this year is it any wonder people are wanting to see change?
Two write-in candidates for the coming election have come forward:
Tamera Sprouse is a hometown girl that currently works in Lynchburg as an administrator at social services. She lives in Brookneal and has long-term family ties to the area. She has an interest in improving the town’s financial base and working to make sure the town survives the tough economic times ahead. Her work as an administrator would certainly help provide stability and direction while serving on the council.
Sonya Furguson grew up in Campbell County and now resides in Brookneal with her family. She is currently employed as a Reading First Coach at Meadville Elementary School and is an adjunct instructor for Southside Virginia Community College where she teaches American Sign Language, Developmental Reading, and Developmental Writing. She has worked with getting educational grants, which would assist the town while it goes through the grant processes.
Congratulations (or condolences) to these two ladies for stepping up and running for council.
The candidates on November 4th are:
Richard Adams
James Nowlin
Stacey Hailey
Philip Shepperd
Tamera Sprouse
Sonya Furguson
Phyllis Campbell
A word to the wise: If you want the write-in candidates to get into office then ONLY vote for the write-in candidates. Voting for one of the incumbents can skew the vote (and really is there any difference between the incumbents?) and split it against one of the write-ins. So vote for the two write-ins, or one write-in and one regular candidate.
Three seats will be filled, so in all probability at least one of the incumbents will be going back in. It’s nice to dream about a clean sweep, but it’s not likely to happen. My guess is Mr. Nowlin will be going back in, but it would sure be nice to have these two very qualified women get a chance to use their experience to help the town make some progress.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Council meeting recap: updated
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15 comments:
According to town talk, I see little chance for anyone other than Mr. Nowlin being put back into office.
Mr. Adams is totally ineffective and slack in his duties as councilman, as well as chairman of his assigned committees. In my opinion, he needs to either be voted out or he needs to resign. He doesn't seem to have the time to deal with town matters, which is a disservice to the people who elected him.
Mr. Hailey, well, he doesn't appear to have a clue, (except on what the Mayor, Mr. Adams or Mr. Nowlin instruct him on......which most of, he can't seem to understand or carry out properly) and I can only suggest that he find a hobby to replace his monthly council meetings with.
He can knock on all the doors in town, and even get McCain and Obama to knock with him, but I'm afraid it will do no good. He's history.
The only seat he will have after Jan. 20th. will be in the spectator's section!
I do see hope on the horizon with the qualifications of the 2 ladies running as write-ins.
Matter of fact, they seem to be over qualified, compared to the others who are running (with exception of Mr. Sheppard, who I do not know).
It would be refreshing to have some qualified thinker's and doer's to add to council.
We've all heard the word "Change" many times in the past year and I believe this is what is needed to shake Brookneal up and send things in the right direction.
(I realize it may sound good in the Union Star and according to some who tell tall tales about how great things are going, but more people in town "seriously" need to attend meetings to see exactly how much "bang for their buck" they are getting with some of the current elected officials.)
If I could vote for council today, I'd go with the last 3 on the list.
Lets clean house and start 2009 off with a fresh outlook and some new faces and ideas.
I hope the rest of the town will wake up and vote these new members in also, and lets see a bit more;
"dependability",
"responsibility" & "accountablilty" to help the 2 or 3 council members who share these qualities now.
But most of all; having a majority of council members working for the taxpaying citizens as their #1 priority, and not having a personal agenda, as some now seem to have.
Who is the "possible" write-in for mayor?
Why did these two female write-ins not file to be on the ballot?
doesn't matter to me why they didn't file. things get confusing at the county and finding out the answers in time can be tough, especially if you're working during the week.
i wonder if either of these ladies are going to run as a write in for mayor, since nothing prevents them from doing so. it would be nice to see someone qualified in the position.
Anonymous said...
"Why did these two female write-ins not file to be on the ballot?"
I'd like to ask the same question about the election 2 years ago when Lorenzo Rouff ran as a last min. write-in!
He did so because the Mayor (and a chosen few others) launched a secret "call all my friends" campaign a day or two before election day, specifically designed to bump off either Mr. Jennings or Mrs. Meisenbach.
This way the mayor could have the guaranteed number of votes she needed in her back pocket on any issue she wished to have passed!
It didn't work!
"They move under the cover of darkness, because their deeds are evil". Sound familiar?
But, I strongly believe that when you come out in the open with a write-in candidate, as is being done with these two highly qualified women, then you will be rewarded with success.
Fact is, somebody is gonna get beat out this time (very possibly 2 of them), and its not one thing that can be done about it!
Finally, no more reportedly secret meetings and scheming to rig how the town is run. Its over. You guys have had it. Finished. Washed up.
If you can't take it like a man, free pacifier's will be handed out at the polls for each of you!
Retribution is a sweet thing!
I don't know any of the new candidates running for office so I can't say anything to their qualifications. (other than what's been written here) From the little bit of info that I do have they certainly seem well qualified.
I will say that it's very nice to see a few other interested in becoming involved in the town's political process. As the old saying goes, better late than never.
Since I don't live in town I can't vote for council or mayor. But I will be watching to see what happens here. I think that if the voters in town are truely fed up then this is their opportunity to say so. On election day they can let their voices be heard.
I'm curious too, are one of these newcomers running for Mayor or are they running for council. It seems, from the opening post, that they are running for council.
In the town of Brookneal the Mayor only has a vote if there is a tie between the council members. In reality, there is more "power" to be had as a council member.
Laurie F.
why did a town employee get in the middle of this? i would think that if it is the case then they should be reprammanded for doing private business on town time. i don't want my taxes paying for private business.
Just to set the record straigh, It was brought up by a Town Council Member. It wasnt personal business, it dealt with the Town Employee's use of Holiday Leave, how its applied and different for each department in the town.
Anonymous said:
>Just to set the record straigh, It was brought up by a Town Council Member. It wasnt personal business, it dealt with the Town Employee's use of Holiday Leave, how its applied and different for each department in the town.
I think this is a different matter than what Sandra F was talking about. I brought up the issue about the holiday pay. I believe that Sandra F is asking why the town manager had any concern over a political forum. She can certainly correct me if I am wrong on this account.
If that is what she was saying, then I have to agree: Why is a town employee getting involved with the whys and wheres of a political forum?
Tracy M
My question is why would the mayor be so afraid of a public forum? The forum would have been neutral, all the candidates would have had an opportunity to answer questions.
If she's so scared that she sends her pitbull, Mr. "Acting As A Town Manager", to tell the chamber to cancel the forum, then it gives the impression that there is something she's afraid of. Is it the fact that none of the incumbents could appear competant sitting up on a stage with the two write-in candidates? I think that is the case. She fears sitting down with someone that is actually competant and qualified.
And the fact that she would use her position to use town employees to do her dirty work is cause for concern. This is a flagrant abuse of power. My tax dollars are being used to pay for her personal agendas. When are the town's people going to get tired of this prima donna crap and elect a real mayor?
I think the town needs to write-in a competant person for mayor! Any suggestions?
Brookneal Blogger.
Tracy, I'm with you now, I stand corrected.
Brookneal blogger said;
"Is it the fact that none of the incumbents could appear competant sitting up on a stage with the two write-in candidates? I think that is the case. She fears sitting down with someone that is actually competant and qualified."
You nailed part of it on the head.
Plus, at the time, the Mayor also likely didn't know the 2 women were running for council and she may have suspected that one was running for Mayor.
They're all afraid that their little group will be busted up, as well as the fact that when you put someone up against the incumbents with the qualifications that these 2 women have, you can only imagine who will come out on top.
But take this into consideration;
When the forum was announced Tue. night at the meeting, neither Mr. Crews nor anyone else had a problem with it. Only after they found out later that 2 write-ins were coming on the scene did they call the Chamber member and scare him out of having the forum.
So, in a nut shell it seems that the 2 women were discriminated against.
Don't be surprised if the News Media, the ACLU or the State Board of Elections end up getting called in on this.
And yes, the 2 town employees had absolutely NO business getting involved in this matter.
To me, this is nothing short of Election rigging, absurdity, and overstepping ones bounds, among many other things.
I can assure you that you've not seen the end of this matter. This is just the beginning of the end.
Just what the town needs right now, another law suit!
Okay, someone fill me in. How does one member on the chamber have the power to call off the forum. I realize that you all are saying that Mike & Phyllis strong armed this person (no surprises there) but I think I would also be angry at the chamber person for making a decision on his own and not standing up to the pressure. Who was this chamber member and why wasn't the decision voted on by all the chamber members?
I'm just confused as to how all of this went down I guess.
I certainly hope that someone is able to put together another forum. In the mean time these ladies running on a write in need to get out and knock on some doors! That's how they will win!
atm said: "And yes, the 2 town employees had absolutely NO business getting involved in this matter."
Were there 2 town employees or are you refering to the Mayor & Mike? Just wanted to make sure I didn't miss something along the way. LOL Thanks!
lcf said;
"Were there 2 town employees or are you refering to the Mayor & Mike? Just wanted to make sure I didn't miss something along the way. LOL Thanks!"
Mayor, Mr. Crews and the Clerk/Treasurer addressing the Chamber member.
atm said: "Mayor, Mr. Crews and the Clerk/Treasurer addressing the Chamber member."
Really? Wow!! Thanks for clearing that up.
I can't imagine this comes as a surprise to anyone though. Bobbie is not about to mess up her gravy train.
"Bobbie is not about to mess up her gravy train." lol Seriously i believe this unequal employee treatment is bullshwank and needs to be handled, you can' expect the Mayor or "Acting as a Town Manager" to handle it with a combined IQ of 18. He needs to be booted, and the mayor and most of the council. That is if anything positive is to come for the town. All i know is it is freaking retarded all of it, like 5th grade stuff, convicted felons etc.
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