The Virginian-Pilot
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CHESAPEAKE
A City Council vote to appoint three people to the city's Planning Commission created a stir Tuesday night.
It started because one applicant being considered had submitted his application after the Oct. 1 deadline.
Councilman C.E. "Cliff" Hayes Jr. said he found it odd that the applicant, George Van Laethem, put in his application Oct. 13, the day that the council postponed a vote because one council member was missing.
Despite Hayes' objection, Van Laethem, a former planning commissioner, was appointed to the commission. Stephens L. Johnson and John A. Kish were also appointed to the board. They were the top three vote-getters in a field of nine nominees.
"I strongly object to us moving forward on any applications that came in beyond the deadline," Hayes said. "It reeks with the appearance and smell of backroom deals being made without the public knowing."
City Clerk Dolores Moore said it is common practice to extend the deadline when board nominations or appointments are continued for 30 days or longer.
"As long I have been here, I don't know of that process," Hayes said. "I must have been left out of the loop."
Two other applicants came in past the Oct. 1 deadline, but the council didn't nominate those applicants to be considered.
Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com
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rules not race
I agree the late runner had better qualifications but the Board should follow the rules. They could move to include other persons or extend the date for incoming applicants.
You folks sound like the virginia beach school board. They didn't even interview nor discuss any applicants, they went with one of their own.
I don't feel your issue is race - just follow the rules folks!!!
Whew!
And I thought the corruption was bad in Norfolk.
Heck, they don't follow the law in Chesapeake either!
I feel a lot better now knowing that the cancer is just not on Norfolk's city council.
C.E. "Cliff" Hayes Jr, tell us how you really feel....
You really want to say it's RACISM don't you?
Hayes is the worst councilman we have and should not be re-elected. He's unintelligent, polarizing, and his views on most issues are in direct opposition to the majority of Chesapeake residents.
Why expect less?
Chesapeake means back room deals and that the good ole buddy system does work........
That's why they call it DEADLINES!
This goes out to the City Council members. There were 6 other applications that were filed before the deadline... 6! Van Laethem and the two other applicants should not have been considered because they were pass the deadline. You keep bending the rules as you see fit. However, you can not bend the fact that if there was no motion to extend the deadline or no vote to do so, then the 3 applicants CAN NOT be considered and their applications are not valid for consideration even if you think it's common practice, which doesn't count. If they did make a motion and vote yes to extend, then everything is okay. How do you think the 6 applicants that did meet the deadline feel? The ones that voted for Van Laethem, you pretty much slapped those 6 applicants in the face with this vote and probably gave many a false sense of insecurity with your actions. Just goes to show you that the BUDDY SYSTEM works in Chesapeake!!!
Ever consider this:
Van Laethem was more qualified than those 6? I'd be willing to bet that you have a hidden agenda here. Come clean.