ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 9, 1995 TAG: 9512110041
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
On Tuesday, Dec. 5, I relinquished my position as Giles County administrator. I did this because one board member circumvented board decisions, committed the board without its knowledge or approval, and instigated actions that conflicted with established policies and procedures. My ethical philosophy has always been not to participate in or condone such activities.
As county administrator for the past two years, I felt I did an effective job serving both the Board of Supervisors and the citizens of Giles County, given the existing challenges and available resources. My leadership and management skills have always been based on positive values and ethics. I tried to initiate efforts to accomplish goals and objectives to move the county forward.
Giles County has undergone many changes during the past two years, and we will continue to experience change as we prepare for the future.
During the past two years many positive changes have come about. I feel I was effective in gaining additional resources, creating a safer and healthier work environment, and emphasizing the importance and value of human resources. An effective leader motivates people in positive ways. Employees cannot work when their need for security is threatened with demands, personal attacks, and other forms of abuse.
Giles County is a very special place with much potential. The quality of life here is already in demand, and more and more people will be coming here to live and enjoy what we have.
We must try to prepare for the future or the future will determine a course for us. We must remember that change does have a cost even though the cost should not exceed the benefits. Having a good educational system and a clean, safe water supply should be the right of all citizens and a requirement for business and industry.
It is my hope that the county leaders will have the strength of character to make hard decisions based on rational thinking and not be swayed by the "squeaky wheel" philosophy of decision making and inaccurate information.
I would also like to comment on the negative and hostile environment created by certain members of the current and future Board of Supervisors. I will not make any apologies for any board decisions which I have helped to implement, but I refuse to serve as a scapegoat for board members who lack the courage of conviction to make tough decisions and stick by them.
Recent months have been made intolerable for me and other county staff by certain leaders who are afraid of change and who are working hard to prevent it. The environment that has been created by these "so called" gentlemen is repulsive and unacceptable. I have learned more than I care to know about intimidation, threats, back stabbing, harassment, and other types of abuse engaged in by these individuals. No one deserves to be treated in such a degrading, totally inhumane manner.
It is my hope that all of the citizens of Giles County will become more involved in local decision making. It will be critical, now more than ever, for close scrutiny and supervision, given the ethics or apparent lack thereof among those who will be making the decisions. It will also be necessary to demand an accurate and impartial report of county business and activities in the county's weekly newspaper. We cannot afford to sit by and allow our tax dollars to be focused on trivial matters, when greater, more critical issues must be addressed.
LENGTH: Medium: 63 linesby CNB