|
"The EDA's attorney said over the phone that the audit report EDA board members saw was a draft and the finalized version is not complete. He added that any copies of the draft have since been destroyed."
|
Front Royal Town Council at its regular Monday meeting gave its attorney Doug Napier the go-ahead to submit a Freedom of Information Act request to the Front Royal-Warren County Development Authority seeking the authority’s forensic audit. That forensic audit, which was commissioned by the EDA in September, resulted in the authority filing a $17 million civil lawsuit against nine defendants for alleged embezzlement and misappropriation of funds. It was the town’s discovery that it was overcharged by the EDA at least $291,000 for debt service payments that led to the audit. That forensic audit, which was commissioned by the EDA in September, resulted in the authority filing a $17 million civil lawsuit against nine defendants for alleged embezzlement and misappropriation of funds. It was the town’s discovery that it was overcharged by the EDA at least $291,000 for debt service payments that led to the audit. Dan Whitten, EDA attorney, said over the phone, however, that the audit report EDA board members saw was a draft and the finalized version is not complete. He added that any copies of the draft have since been destroyed. Napier previously said the town will have legal grounds to take the EDA to circuit court if the authority denies the FOIA request.
The Northern Virginia Daily
A month after three judges removed Virginia Beach Councilman David Nygaard from office, the City Council selected five people they think are qualified to fill the job. Among the finalists: John Uhrin, the former councilman who was voted out of office in November. On Tuesday night, the council met in a closed-door session to review 14 applications from residents interested in temporarily filling the Beach District vacancy until a special election is held. Each applicant submitted a resume, statements of economic interest, a letter explaining their interest in the job and answered a list of questions from council members.
The Virginian-Pilot
The pilot who landed his plane on Interstate 81 on March 29 didn’t call 911, but he did call the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic Control Tower at Tri-Cities Airport in Blountville. “I need to put her down,” the pilot calmly said on the recording, after giving his call sign. The Rutledge, Tennessee, pilot’s name is unknown since the Virginia State Police doesn’t have a report on the incident, according to a VSP spokeswoman. Washington County Virginia Central Dispatch received seven calls regarding the incident — six via 911 and one directly to them from an off-duty deputy. There were two calls between agencies. The Bristol Herald Courier received copies of the recorded calls via a Freedom of Information Act request.
Bristol Herald Courier
Who would run the massive, 30-year development project proposed for 10 blocks of downtown Richmond? What qualifications do they bring? What's their financial backing? How are they legally connected with each other? Who are their advisers? What are their roles? You'll find out when, and if, the $1.4 billion project moves forward, says Mayor Levar Stoney, whose administration enters its 13th month negotiating what would be the city's largest economic development project in more than 50 years. Until then, the answers remain under lock and key — or at least hidden behind Freedom of Information Act denials and other declined requests. "Release of the Proposal (or portions thereof) during such negotiations would 'adversely affect the [City's] bargaining position or negotiating strategy,' and, therefore, the records responsive to your request are being withheld from disclosure," Welch wrote, citing Virginia code.
Style Weekly
A press conference called by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday raised questions about whether the event itself had violated state law. Capt. Wayne Davis of the Sheriff’s Office emailed an announcement Tuesday at 10:33 a.m. to representatives of news media saying this: “Sheriff Lane Perry will be conducting a press conference today, April 9th at 3:00 pm. This will be held at the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, 3250 Kings Mountain Rd., Martinsville, VA. A little after 3 p.m., Sheriff Perry stepped to a lectern erected outside the front door of the sheriff’s office, against a backdrop of various flags. Martinsville Sheriff Steve Draper, Patrick County Dan Smith, Danville Sheriff Michael Mondul, Pittsylvania County Sheriff Michael Taylor, Franklin County Sheriff Bill Overton Jr. and Patrick Henry Community College Police Chief Gary Dove stood shoulder to shoulder behind Perry for what appeared to be a significant announcement about fighting crime. But Perry proceeded to announce his candidacy for re-election as sheriff and gave a speech about why he is running and what his department has accomplished in the 12-plus years he has served as sheriff. The other sheriffs and police chiefs made remarks endorsing him. Did that misleading process of urging news media to attend a news conference that in fact was for political purposes violate state election law? Was using the sheriff’s office property, employees, equipment and presumably other state officials on public time to stage a political event outside those laws? Dan Ortiz, a University of Virginia law professor, said he doesn’t think Perry’s called press conference was illegal, but, he added, “It’s certainly poor practice.
Martinsville Bulletin
|
