June 09, 2008
Implications about Walker, Hausrath are wrong
Although, as a Staunton resident, I have no dog in the current Waynesboro city officials’ dog fight, I do, however, have an interest in assuring that the press and public have an accurate accounting of Doug Walker’s purchase of a Lofton Lake share (“Retreat connects Walker, Hausrath,” June 5).Care needed in manager search
Quiet in the City Hall cacophony makes more shrill the discordant sounds over the looming departure of the city manager.June 05, 2008
Taxpayers deserve better treatment
As a member of the silent majority, who follows the local news and rolls her eyes at the arguments of the City Council and its inability to help this city solve serious matters, I must stand up and say, “Whoa!”May 29, 2008
When will it end?
When will the bloodletting stop? When will the vicious, venomous behaviors of City Council members (old and new) run its course? When will the new majority and new minority call a truce and let the pain subside? I do not believe the Waynesboro citizenry can expect a change for the better any time soon. In fact, future events may get worse. Why? The hurt, pain, anger and frustration suffered by the old minority has lasted too long for a reconciliation of the parties in the near future. The arrogance of the old majority is too raw and recent. The citizens of Waynesboro have witnessed two good men, Bob Lunger and Doug Walker, sacrificed because they got caught in the crossfire of the two warring factions. How many more good civil servants must be sacrificed on the altar of venomous, petty behaviors? Neither side has displayed the Christian values for which this community is famous. Neither side has shown the necessary humanity needed to rise above the anger and hurt so that the citizens of Waynesboro can face the challenges of the future united. As one senior citizen said to me, “They treated Doug Walker like the Romans treated Jesus. Nobody should be treated like that on television, nobody.” Signed, That Damn Yankee. David O’Brien WaynesboroTune in for the ‘best show in town’
The best show in town this week is Channel 14 from about 9:10 to 9:35 p.m.Walker will get severance pay, benefits
City Manager Doug Walker will walk away from his job next month with a lump-sum payment covering a half-year’s salary, benefits and deferred compensation under the contract originally negotiated after his hiring five years ago.May 28, 2008
Walker’s parting breaks the peace
The flickering light of comity on the Waynesboro City Council has been snuffed by a familiar gust of dysfunction, which is neither remarkable nor pernicious except for one whose title has become suddenly transitory.Walker plans to exit post ‘gracefully’
As Doug Walker fielded a flood of conciliatory e-mails Wednesday in the aftermath of his resignation as Waynesboro city manager, the specter of council infighting reemerged.May 27, 2008
Walker quits post
After more than five years as Waynesboro’s city manager, Doug Walker offered his resignation during a closed session at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.May 22, 2008
Real estate tax rate holds
As expected, the Waynesboro City Council unanimously adopted a tax rate ordinance and introduced a budget ordinance Thursday. The real estate tax for fiscal year 2009 will be unchanged from the current year, at 70 cents per $100 assessed value. The personal property tax is $5 per $100 of assessed value, while the machinery and tools tax is $3 per $100 of assessed value. By the city’s charter, the council must introduce a budget ordinance prior to the fourth Monday in May, City Manager Doug Walker explained. The $40.1 million general fund budget, according to Budget Director Pat Nicosia, is about $657,000 below Walker’s original budget he proposed to council. The introduced budget number, according to Councilman Frank Lucente, does not incorporate the rebate the Waynesboro Town Center will receive – about $833,000 – making the budget, in effect, $39.2 million. Councilmen Tim Williams, along with Lucente both praised Nicosia and Walker’s work on the budget. Williams said he was pleased with the balanced budget and retaining the current tax rate. Lucente introduced the 70-cent rate, meaning the council had to come up with around $600,000 in cuts to the budget, which it did Monday. “We didn’t cut the budget,” Lucente said. “The budget really grew because even without having the tax increase, we have a bigger budget.” Mayor Tom Reynolds once again warned residents of the budget cuts’ impact. “There are some cuts that you are going to feel,” Reynolds said. “And so when the time comes, be aware that you got what you wanted, a 70-cent tax rate, so don’t cry too loudly if the service that you had been getting is no longer there. It’s going to happen because of having to cut that much out of this budget, so just be aware.” The council will take up the budget ordinance at its June 9 meeting.May 21, 2008
Council gets it right on budget
Payoffs for taxpayers are rare. Waynesboro’s get one starting tonight, and there is sufficient cause for hope that it will be the first of many.May 15, 2008
Council set to consider budget cuts
The Waynesboro City Council needs to cut around $600,000 from next year’s proposed budget, and it will have the weekend to ponder possibilities that City Manager Doug Walker will give to them.May 08, 2008
Future of council still unpredictable
Letters to the editor The following are my observations of the May 6 election:City Council forums yield low showing
Twelve minutes, one speaker and it was all over.May 07, 2008
