The BOE is putting people on notice now that schools are going to be closed due to falling attendance and have in reality already reached that point, Waverly being put aside. For those with short memories, Greenmont and Neale were on the block this last Bond Vote and more for political than real life taken off the table. In fact Neale I believe is now scheduled for a new roof. That does not make sense; it should be for sure up for the 2018 Bond sale. Greenmont if for no other reason than to stretch almost nonexistent dollars for the best interest of the kids and NOT the adults. Adults with fonder memories of a grade school than a high school or college are a bit sad/ short on memories? Several of the grade/ middle schools I attended in the day are now just that- memories. Victims of numbers of students and/ or money. But I still can remember them pretty much based on certain events and will for all my life (I think)?
I must also state, I am understanding of the concerns about the cost of current remediation by Fenton Glass now. But more so on why IF and I repeat IF it is so "clean" that Mr Fenton would not just okay additional remediation in the example of 10 years if needed? That should have been a no brainer? Give the guarantee while knowing it would not be used in advance. UNLESS Mr. Fenton and his crew know something that may be of note in the time to come?
This could be applied somewhat to the contamination as shown by the 2013/ 2014 Site Survey of the Johns Manville site and the allegations by Mr. Rapp that the Western side of the park has no contamination. Combine that with the "Ravine never existed" position he has taken and what appears to be the Ravine in some old photos of the site and one can easily begin to get very, very suspicious of what someone is lying?
In fact, the Risk Assessment Report from Vienna due to DEP by the end of December was not submitted as of about a week, 10 days ago. When a FOIA went to DEP, it came out that the City of Vienna had not appropriated the money yet to even pay Triad Engineering for their work. I had waited for the City Council Meeting on the 9th to see if any came from that meeting, but none did.
Why is the City and most specifically Mr. Rapp not paying the Vendor for their work? Has he seen the report and is not happy with what was in it? Is he pressuring them to redo the report to support his allegations of no contamination/ Ravine before paying them? Knowing the above leads me to be more supportive of the BOE on what may or may not be at the Fenton site?
I know from listening, watching and having the data I have from various sources to include Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), requests that it is very common for Mr. Rapp to practice a form of Governance based more on deception, deceit, misinformation, misdirection and when possible even a lie, than the Truth?
A bit of a follow up on the 35th Anniversary for the Senior Center. It surprised me at first that there would be a 35th Celebration? 25 years, yes; 50; absolutely; 35, say what? It turned out in Truth to be a PR moment for Mr. Rapp to put his Cheerleader and wingman out to extol the benefits of the new Gymnasium being built on to the Senior Center.
Both of the above went on and on about all it would bring to the Seniors, not just in Vienna, but the invite for the whole Senior Community in the MOV to use the facilities and events to further invigorate their lives. Okay, some neighborliness is forever a good thing. To keep the older folks in touch with not just each other, but the younger folks is a plus for them for sure. But, when Ms. Kern noted hiring people to teach Zumba, I sat up and listened closer. A few years back, I had suggested hiring people to teach classes so the current building could be used more efficiently. My answer back: It is against the Law for Vienna to enter into these kinds of agreements/ contracts; Yet now?
And than again the misinformation on attendance of 35- 50 people on average at the current exercise classes. And again, I will state it is B.S. In the months that I would just walk in to see what was going after the over loading of 60 people last July, at NO TIME did I ever find more than 23 people upstairs. That is TWENTY THREE, not fifty or even forty. What started me more than anything was when a lady told me one day that is was about 13 and up to 35 that were in attendance. I will say this in defense of Mr. Rogers and Ms. Kern. IF one counts the eight to ten folks downstairs doing card games and puzzles, the head count could reach up to 31. But that is counting both floors. I know why all the may I allege lying went on. It was to justify spending all the bucks before the election to rope in as many Seniors as possible. Simple fact based on Politics; I understand that. I am also quite suspicious that many of the Seniors in Vienna will not use the facility in its current form because in a small town, grudges last forever. Another fact of life, people get ticked off at someone and will not go where they are out of dislike for the other person.
And having listened and watched, I am aware that this group (Seniors), is very Political and Personal amongst themselves over the years. One lady told me that her friend when asked flat out refused to accompany her to a Senior Center event. 'nuff said'