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Letters/Opinions
Patti Dmuchowski said the committee wants to hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, for the veterans’ memorial planned for the Whitaker property. The committee is narrowing down the list of potential names for the site, she added. Oak Ridge Elementary School. Principal Penny Loschin thanked Summit Church for providing water and soft drinks to the school’s staff.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
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McClellan said the forthcoming arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine to drugstores is going to be “a big game changer” in overcoming the disease. Kinneman urged fellow council members to resume holding town meetings virtually; the council decided last month to give council and committees the option to meet in one of three ways: in person, remotely, or using a “hybrid” model that allows people to choose between attending in person or virtually. Pittman thanked people for picking up litter around town.
“Let’s all remember to keep Oak Ridge beautiful,” she said. Schneider thanked residents for volunteering on committees and speaking at public hearings.
“It’s a wonderful characteristic of our town,” she said.
With no further council comments, the meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
HAPPY 85TH BIRTHDAY, HELEN LEDFORD
...continued from p. 11
piece of paper into one of her marvelous creations. In less than 30 seconds, she created wonderfully made, developmentally appropriate sheets that were just what the children needed.
“Thank you, Helen, for your years of service, gift of wisdom and all that you gave and continue to give to those you meet,” Cole wrote.
Christy Hartzogue, a retired Oak Ridge Elementary kindergarten teacher, wrote words of appreciation to Helen, her former assistant, “for teaching me how to teach. God blessed me with 12 years of your exceptional talent, humor and your devotion to children!”
And many others thanked Helen for the stories she’s written for the Northwest Observer over the years. “As a farm girl myself, I’ve always loved Helen’s stories!” wrote Laura Reneer, Northwest Observer’s marketing manager. “Brings back great memories of growing up in the country in simpler times. Happy birthday, Helen! Thanks for sharing your wit and wisdom with us all these years!”
In closing, Morales passed along a message from someone she said is one of Helen’s favorite TV actors: “Helen, I am reaching out to you today with a special request… I would love to ask you to be an honorary Walton for your birthday. Is that all right? ‘Helen Walton’ – I love it! Welcome to the family, Helen! I’d also like to say, ‘Good night, John Boy, good night, Mary Ellen… and good night, Helen. Happy, happy birthday, with lots and lots of love!’”
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Development, property owners’ rights must be balanced
With respect to the sequence of informational articles in the Northwest Observer regarding Summerfield Farms Village, I have read enough about the proposal for Summerfield Farms Village; I have heard enough about how such a development will harm the Town of Summerfield; and I have experienced enough to make the following comments about Summerfield Farms Village and the citizens of Summerfield.
First of all, have those who are complaining about Summerfield Farms Village lived in Summerfield all their lives, seen farm after farm turned into one development after another, and had their children sent to other schools because Summerfield Elementary has too many students?
And what about the environment? North Carolina is one of few states in this country with prime soil for agriculture. We all know that working farms are disappearing. Farming is hard work. My parents were farmers all of their lives and I live on that same farm. I hope they are proud of me for doing my best to preserve what they worked so hard to acquire.
People need a place to live. However, if those who are complaining have been part of the development process, do they really believe that someone else should not have the same ability to develop their land? What former farm is their house on? Were hundreds of acres divided up for the houses they live in while they enjoy the amenities of the Town of Summerfield? If so, what right do they have to complain about yet another development in Summerfield?
Summerfield Village Farms is going to create more traffic on roads and more use of open land in Summerfield for development. I am not for or against the development. Property owners should have the right to do whatever they want with their land. And every citizen of this country has a right to voice opinions about everything. I am not implying there is anything political about Summerfield Farms Village. Residents of the Town of Summerfield should consider the sacrifices other farms have made so that they can live in a peaceful place we can all call home. Molly Byrd, SUMMERFIELD
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separate invoices; each came in under the $2,000 spending limit council members had without requiring review by the entire council.
At the time the payment was made, former council member Frank Bruno, who belonged to the same business networking group as Vic Beaver, owner of Beaver Outdoor Solutions, served as the sole member of the town’s Property Committee; in that role, he was responsible for working directly with town vendors that provided property-related services.
Shortly after the incident involving the $10,000 payment, Flynt, Mayor Pro Tem Thearon Hooks and Bruno voted to approve a two-year contract with Beaver, effective April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2021. The action was opposed by then council members Bill Jones and Tim Jones, but passed with a 3-2 vote.
Within a few months after newly elected council members Derek Foy, Jimmy Landreth and Jim Rigsbee were sworn into office in December 2019, the issue of the $10,000 payment to Beaver resurfaced.
According to recently released minutes from a March 12, 2020, closed session, Foy and Landreth questioned whether Bruno and Beaver’s previous actions were a deliberate attempt to circumvent town policy.
In that closed session, Town Attorney Tom Medlin confirmed breaking the invoices down into smaller amounts deprived other council members of the opportunity to discuss and/or approve the services, and citizens from knowing about them. When Foy said he felt the town was intentionally deceived by a vendor, Medlin agreed it appeared Beaver was aware of council members’ $2,000 spending limit and had intentionally submitted smaller, separate invoices that would come in under that limit.
“Is that fraudulent?” Foy asked the attorney.
included a smiley face emoji with their been found innocent, so there is nothing response,” Foy continued. “… The vendor there… The matter, as far as I’m conand Bruno are in the same business cerned, is closed, and Frank is as clean as
Mayor Flynt then asked if that meant it networking group. You can’t make this a whistle.” would also be fraudulent on Bruno’s part, stuff up.” Flynt’s comments conflict with a letter to which the attorney responded, “Well, On numerous occasions, Flynt has the Northwest Observer recently obtained Frank was outside his spending limit.” stated in council meetings and recently, via a public records request; it was dated
As council members debated whether to the Northwest Observer, that represen- the morning after the March 12, 2020, fraud had been committed, Rigsbee tatives from the state auditor’s office and closed session. In it, the town attorney suggested Beaver may have been simply the treasurer’s office have examined the wrote to Vic Beaver: “… This council breaking down one large invoice into town’s financial records during the period is aware that in March 2019, you sent smaller ones and the council could be in question and found nothing amiss. an estimate for work for $10,000 that making a “big assumption” that anyone To that, Foy said, “No authorities required council approval which was was intentionally defrauding the town. have investigated this specific scheme not obtained, and you were paid for this
When the closed session eventually discussed by council in the (March 12, invoice. However, you participated in ended, Flynt stormed out and announced 2020) closed session meeting, nor has a scheme to avoid council approval by he was resigning as mayor. A few days anyone been exonerated in this matter. later voiding this invoice and issuing five later, he said he had changed his mind I trust our citizens understand this fact separate invoices to get the work within and he has since continued to serve as even if others are informing them differ- the authority of the property committee the town’s mayor. ently. In my opinion the town is due back chairman. This type of conduct is fraudu-
Meanwhile, Foy has remained stead- money from someone.” lent and denies the council and residents fast in his determination to change town Flynt maintains that as far as he is of Stokesdale the opportunity to review spending policies and ensure that “noth- concerned, the matter should be closed. and approve such contracts.” ing like this happens again.” “Why are we still even talking about Vic Beaver and former council mem-
At the May 14, 2020, council meeting, this?” the mayor recently asked. “It’s ber Frank Bruno were invited to comment he made a PowerPoint presentation that been investigated and everybody has for this article but declined. centered on Beaver Outdoor Solutions’ performance. It included an email dated July 17, 2019, in which Beaver’s office manager/bookkeeper explained to the town HOT. RAIN. COLD. clerk/finance officer that the company had sent the town an “estimate invoice” in Tested for every weather extreme March 2019 for $10,000 and Bruno had later requested it be broken down into smaller amounts “under his approval.”
“In between that discussion with Vic (Beaver, owner) and Frank (Bruno), your AP sent a check for the full $10,000,” the office manager continued. “After that discussion, I created five small invoices :-).” 7101 US 158, Stokesdale
“In my opinion, this incident was NEW SYSTEM INSTALLATION • SERVICE • REPAIR much worse than the unauthorized $24,400 expense from the removal of a Ask about special fi nancing few blown-down pine trees in the park Subject to credit approval, see store for details (October 2018),” Foy wrote in an email to the Northwest Observer last week. “In an arranged scheme to circumvent town policy and avoid a vote of the town council, former council member Frank Bruno requested the vendor to mask the large dollar value of one scope of work by submitting a bunch of smaller invoices under his spending limit. The Northwest Observer • Totally local since 1996 “The vendor confirmed via email that they would comply with this request and FEB. 18 - MARCH 3, 2021 35
