2009.01.08
Legal or not, plan stinks
What's next, Salem?
Free beer for city officials at dollar-beer night when the Salem Red Sox are in town? Free passes for the movie theaters on Apperson? Canceled parking tickets for bigwigs?
Sure, under state law, Salem City Council members and local business owners Bill Jones and Lisa Garst have the right to do business with the city they serve.
But in a city where image is everything, that looks bad.
Monday, Salem council will vote on whether to allow the businesses owned by the two new council members to bid on city contracts.
The only things standing between Jones, Garst and what the average citizen would characterize as blatant conflict of interest are a few exceptions in Virginia law cited by the Salem city attorney. Meeting those exceptions, however, makes what they want to do legal.
But palatable? Puh-lease.
"I don't think Bill or I are asking for any special favors," Garst said this week.
Are you kidding me?
Can you imagine the uproar if Roanoke Mayor David Bowers, a lawyer in private practice, lined his pockets with dollars from occasional legal work thrown his way by the city?
Roanokers -- led by the gadfly brigade -- would storm the halls of the Noel C. Taylor Building. And rightfully so.
I'm not betting on that reaction in Salem -- and neither is Salem artist Charley Lightcap.
"It sounds like an issue that's decided," said the 67-year-old who moved to Salem about four years ago from Philadelphia. He said he "definitely" is opposed to Jones' and Garst's requests.
"It just seems that as far as politics goes -- from my experience and not just Salem -- if they want something, they'll maneuver and get it. They pretty much have the last say."
Salemite Billye White said she initially opposed Jones and Garst pocketing city money while they sat on the council until she learned "they're on pretty solid ground" legally.
"If [City Manager] Kevin Boggess and our city attorney say it's OK, that's good enough for me," added White.
Jones' sign business pocketed $48,000 each of the past two years, and Garst's engineering enterprise made $8,000 for the past two years. Both council newcomers suspended their work with the city after they were elected in May.
But now, they want the city gravy train to roll again.
Garst and Jones will have to abstain from voting Monday on the issue affecting them. Thank goodness for small favors.
Garst is hiding behind the "it's good for local business" drill. It won't necessarily be good for other local businesses that lose out on city contracts that Jones and Garst win.
They're going to think the fix was in. And that won't be good for city hall.
Ms. Flowers,
Thank you for pointing out the obvious. You hit the nail on the head when you say it won't be good for other local businesses competing for the same business Jones and Garst want. This is just the kind of "inside track" influence that conflict-of-interest legislation is designed to stop.
Sincerely yours,
Frank Munley
Comment by Frank Munley — January 8, 2009 @ 10:26 am
Maybe you are just looking into it to deep, If they won contracts before they were elected then why would they not now, sure townfolk will look at it as the city playing favorites but if they are open about the bidding process and disclose those bids when the contract is awarded then there is nothing wrong. They don't make much being on council and they need their business's to make a living.
Comment by Mike T. — January 8, 2009 @ 10:54 am
The sad thing is your premise, right or wrong, is grossly overshadowed by your disdain for Salem. Your column oozes with hatred for the city. Don't compromise your journalistic integrity because you have "issues" with Salem. Lighten up.....puh-lease.
Bruce Thomasson
Salem
Comment by Bruce Thomasson — January 8, 2009 @ 4:55 pm
If Jones and Garst, when elected, made a public announcement that they would not accept city contracts, that would be a real story. However, as they didn't, this is nothing new. I don't believe their interest in serving the citizens of Salem led both to run for council, but actually to secure the inside track on public contracts. So, this is much ado about nothing...
Comment by Shaun — January 8, 2009 @ 5:34 pm
Well, I love you and everything, but this time, you've really done it!!! Salem is an entity unto itself. It's a seperate nation. It's not even in the United States. In Salem, the garbage dosen't even stink. The people don't even need a sewer system, because EVERYTHING about them is PURE AS THE DRIVEN SNOW. The people of Salem are the smartest, their schools are the best, their kids are all angels, and they ALL live right at the Foot of the Cross. And you, YOU, who I love with all my heart and soul, YOU, have the unmittigated GALL to QUESTION ANYTHING ANYBODY IN SALEM DOES? I still love you, honey, but I FEAR for your life now.
Comment by Percy Kution — January 8, 2009 @ 6:35 pm
As a former resident of the west Salem area, I love your comment Percy! It is so true. They have their own song, I'm Salem born and Salem bred and when I die I'll be Salem dead.
Comment by Debbie — January 9, 2009 @ 4:42 pm
Civic Responsibility,Community Obligation, and Dead End Churches: I posted an e-mail earlier about the positive reflection of the young ROTC Members attending William Fleming. I ride past a church on Lafayette near the intersection of Staunton almost daily and it is truly an eyesore. The paint is peeling off of the columns in front as well as other parts of the building. The place is generally unkempt for supposedly a place of worship in a pretty much poverty-stricken community. Yet, during their weekend services the parking lot is filled with the latest vehicles which makes me wonder if this is a classic example of the blind leading the blind. For heaven's sake, take some pride and clean up this ostentatious shanty. Moving on, I ride past the Samaritan Inn, and see what appears to be healthy men standing around for a hand-out. For heaven's sake, ask to earn a meal or an income by doing some chores while in town, like helping the people at that dead-end church to paint their building. The Samaritan Inn and other "hand-out" agencies should volunteer to provide helpful services to the Roanoke Community via what appears to be a transient brood, like sweeping sidewalks, raking yards, cutting grass, painting, cleaning, etc. There is no pie in the sky and likewise should be no unearned rewards. I and some of my associates have contacted churches galore about providing preventative healthcare technology that might not only save their members money but possibly their lives and only a few pastors have taken the initiative to see if this program could help...preachers more concerned about their tithes than the health of those doing the tithing...cart before the horse. What has your church done to earn those tithes when you see no immediate improvement surrounding your not-for-profit, pie-in-the-sky corral? Corral might not be the proper term for sheep.
Comment by Bobby Buck — January 9, 2009 @ 7:11 pm
Apparently you do not know that Salem is an enity into it's self and as such has it's own code, laws, and social standards. I never lived there,but for over 2 decades saw,heard and learned a lot, that I found shocking to say the least, and it goes to the grave, native Salemites NEVER do anything wrong, EVER, never forget, and never LET IT GO.
My life is in danger for alertering you... Yea there are a few good people, but it's hard to seperate 'em so I just hang in my neck o the woods.
When they turn on you for any percived wrong you are dead meat..
Never dare to cross a Salem Christian,
Comment by Dona Wheeler — January 9, 2009 @ 8:49 pm
Sorry Percy I did not read your post before writing mine, but it seems we are riding the same waves...
Comment by Dona Wheeler — January 9, 2009 @ 8:58 pm
Dear Salem, Confucius say: People with nose high in air just looking for pigeon to s--- in it.
Comment by Di — January 10, 2009 @ 1:06 pm
Sounds like it has been "corrected". Next!
Comment by Ed S. — January 10, 2009 @ 2:36 pm
Percy:
You said it much more eloquently than I could have, but I agree 100% that Salemites don't need a sewer, since their sewage could be marketed as ice cream. Just ask them. Now that, as Ed has pointed out, this is no longer an issue, I can see Shanna's point clearly about the "appearance of impropriety," but I believe the two individuals involved would have bent over backwards to be honest and fair in submitting future bids.
Comment by Mike — January 11, 2009 @ 2:21 am
So now you all above the law Ms. Flowers? You simply don't like it and that's all the reason you can offer? You ask for civic leaders who are open and in touch with the public. Salem gives you business leaders who comply with the law and offer all associated documents and it's still not enough? It must be lonely in the ivory tower.
Comment by Lauren Deutsch — January 12, 2009 @ 7:27 am
Ms. Flowers, I must disagree with your opinion regarding Salem City Council members, Jones/Garst and your apparent disdain for Salem and its' residents. I have lived in both Roanoke County (20 years) and the City of Salem (5 years). I do not agree that Salem Residents believe they are better than others or that our local government is corrupt. Salem is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. After subscribing to The Roanoke Times for more than 25 years, I recently cancelled my subscription to the paper and it was articles just like yours that I found distasteful and biased to the point that my husband and I no longer wished to read the news as reported by The Times. Your article was emailed to me by a friend and now I'm even more convinced that I no longer wish to spend my money on The Roanoke Times.
I am sorry you have chosen to end your long-standing relationship with the newspaper. As an opinion writer, I have penned many, many columns taking Roanoke city leaders to task over a variety of issues. In four years, I have written about Salem three times, I believe. And one of those was when the high school forensics team won the state championship a few years ago.---s
Comment by Cathy — January 12, 2009 @ 3:32 pm
Ms. Deusch:
With all due respect, HUHHHHH???????????
Comment by mike — January 13, 2009 @ 3:30 am