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Last Updated: Nov 14, 2008 - 12:49:26 PM |
Board’s Actions Perplexing
To the Editor:
This is the first time I have given a public opinion on how Chesterfield’s new BOS is managing Chesterfield. I believe in what is right and detest hypocrisy regardless on which side of an issue we stand.
Mr. Fausz’s From the Editor of the September 3 issue was a respectful opinion on how he believed that Marleen Durfee, the Matoaca Supervisor, was denied by BOS Chairman Art Warren the courtesy to make a motion for a case in her district and further stating, “For as long as anyone I have talked with can remember, the chair always recognizes the district representative to make the motion in his or her district.”
We often, as citizens, forget that there is much more to many cases than meets the eye. When this new board was elected, it was elected with a strong anti-growth sentiment throughout much of Chesterfield. It was and has been obvious that Mrs. Durfee is and was agenda-driven and does not understand principles of good business or the word “compromise” for the common good.
While I respect any person that stands up for what is right and what that person believes to be in the best interest of all Chesterfield, citizens should be ever-mindful that some cases are county cases and not just district cases.
When Supervisor Jaeckle from Bermuda was the first supervisor to voice her strong support for the Roseland case in last week’s BOS meeting, she was rightly joined by supervisors Gecker and Holland in support of the Chairman’s motion to approve. After months, even years, of amendments, deferrals, and deliberation, it is my opinion that those in support did the right thing.
The purpose of my comments is to defend a process that grants latitude to any chairman under certain circumstances.
After four years of listening to Marleen Durfee and her cronies wrongfully accuse the previous BOS for operating as a “closed” government and not being sensitive and informing all citizens of the issues, is it now appropriate to draw attention to Mrs. Durfee’s unconscionable actions with her fellow board members during the June 25 BOS meeting? These supervisors just happen to represent the majority of Chesterfield citizens.
When working to complete the long-awaited Upper Swift Creek Plan, astute Planning Commissions had labored for years over a version of the Plan that could be supported by the Commission and the BOS. Mrs. Durfee surprised at least two of her fellow Board members at the last minute with numerous changes to the plan at the June 25 BOS monthly meeting.
Since the Board Packets did not contain language changes (per Supervisor Gecker) and Supervisor Jaeckle did not have information to help her understand what she was voting on and the Planning Director was the only other person to have Mrs. Durfee’s changes, would this constitute open government, which was a complaint of Mrs. Durfee’s when she was an activist?
Now about the vote for the Roseland case. From my view, the chairman was within his prerogative to make the motion for the case because Mrs. Durfee had demonstrated to all that, on more than one occasion, was agenda-driven. This type of behavior is not always best for our county! After months of deliberation, it seemed obvious that the consensus of the new Board was to approve the case. Believing that the Roseland Case was “a good case,” why allow Mrs. Durfee to grandstand for her cronies and any who may not understand smart growth?
It must have been challenging for Board members to support any case that could label them as pro-growth!
While the process is not perfect, as anything rarely is, our Board of Supervisors did the right thing.
R.M. “Dickie” King, Jr.
P.S. (I have no affiliation with this project or any other project by any builder anywhere!)
P.P.S. (Did I really read that Rick Gray would vote for McCain? Love ya, Rick!)
Obama’s Visit Poorly Planned
To the Editor:
Imagine, a presidential candidate making a campaign stop in Chester, Va. At first I was rather impressed. Then I read some of the details of this stop at John Tyler by Mr. Obama. The detail that really hit me was that the event was for invited guests. Is a candidate who campaigns for the highest office in America really getting his message out to the voters if the only people present have been invited? In a way, it must be like watching a comedy on television that uses a laugh track. The entire audience probably knew when to applaud. Did they hold up signs telling them to applaud?
He visited Chester, but only spoke to the people who support him and will vote for him. What about people like me, who are undecided? I would have liked to have seen him, heard what he had to say; but I guess he doesn’t feel that I am important enough to be included. I wonder what the purpose of a campaign stop is if he only talks to those who already support him. Doug Wilder got invited, so now I feel fortunate having not been invited. Obviously he prefers people like Doug than average undecided voters like me. All for show and a complete waste of money.
Steve Pedersen
Remembering Young Lives
To the Editor:
On August 8, tragedy struck the Enon community. A truck carrying two young men, Brady Fisher and Nicholas Fox, was traveling through the Walthall area of Enon and ran off the road and rolled several times. Both young men inside were left in terrible condition. Sadly, the driver, Brady Fisher, passed away on September 17.
Nicholas was left in a coma has many, many obstacles to face. His family will have financial hardships to endure. Please don’t let his family suffer any more than they have to. A fund has been set up to help Nicholas’ family as the expenses accrue.
Please send your well wishes to: caringbridge.org/visit/NickFox1. Monetary donations may be made to: The Nick Fox Fund/Marie Specksgoor c/o Suntrust Bank, 12551 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Chester, VA 23831 or at ANY Suntrust Bank. On behalf of the family, thank you all so very much for all of your support.
Cathy O. Mason
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| Letters to the Editor: November 19, 2008 |
| Letters to the Editor: November 12, 2008 |
| Letters to the Editor: November 5, 2008 |
| Letters to the Editor: October 29, 2008 |
| Letters to the Editor: October 22, 2008 |
| Letters to the Editor: October 15, 2008 |
| Letters to the Editor: October 08, 2008 |
| Letters to the Editor: October 1, 2008 |
| Letters to the Editor: September 24, 2008 |
| Letters to the Editor: September 17, 2008 |
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