Letters to the Editor

News Virginian
Published: May 3, 2007

It's a real shame that Reynolds, Dowdy and Smith haven't yet been convinced about what the majority of Waynesboro residents want for our city. Who represents the squeaky wheel-

Those begging for taxpayer money or those who expect council to make the responsible decisions they were hired to make- I couldn't be there, but it sounds like the squeaky wheel didn't show up to the meeting as a majority! My crystal ball tells me the trio will eventually come to learn what the majority wanted.

Election Day doesn't come soon enough unfortunately, and we won't be able to get the money back after the current majority council is fired. 

Michelle Jenkins
Waynesboro

My wife and I watched the latest city council meeting last night in disbelief when the Dowdy/Smith/Reynolds triumvirate attempted once again to divert public funds to the Wayne Theatre project and not use the money to solve our storm water/sewage problem.

I was impressed by the well-coordinated presentation of the DSR, each member coming in with a key point at just the right moment. All this seemed too perfect not to have been orchestrated. Fearing the worst, I e-mailed the city attorney, R. C. Lunger, about the law regarding three members of council "getting together" in private to discuss city business. His quick reply (super job responding, incidentally) assured me that one-on-one discussions are OK, but a three-way violates the law.

He also stated his belief that a three-way did not occur.
Assuming for the moment that Mr. Lunger's assessment is correct, it seems clear that the law seeks to prevent conducting government business in private and out of public view. Even though there can't be a legal direct three-way conversation, if I call "Bill" to discuss a "problem", then hang up and call "Sally" to discuss the "problem" and then "Sally" calls "Bill" to discuss the "problem," I think we are having a three-way discussion about the "problem" and certainly violating the spirit and intent of the law. Now, you may be OK with this, but it is sure not OK to me. Mr. Lucente's comment about "not being in the loop" clearly indicates to me that outside discussions do occur.

I am not making any accusations, nor do I have any knowledge that the situation I saw was not spontaneous. But I would rest easier if the three amigos would independently describe the events and discussions that lead to the situation in question.

John S. R. Lawrence
Waynesboro

Speaking of the Wayne Theatre and liberals - who gave members of City Council the authority to give our tax dollars to private organizations-

Ronald Reagan was right on target when he said, "the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so."

I would tell Reagan that liberals are never our friends especially when they give tax dollars to private organizations.

Dr. Ed. Hollowell and Bill Blakeley had excellent articles on not funding the Wayne Theatre with taxpayer dollars. Please submit them again.

Liberals "mess up" everything they touch.

John Wingfield
Waynesboro