The Russell County Board of Supervisors are clearly in violation of law when it comes to conducting meetings. The supervisors could also face a lawsuit for discrimination. The rules of the board state public comment is three minutes. This year this has been violated time after time. The Chairman David Eaton has also called down and shut individuals off at three minutes while allowing others to just keep speaking.
David Miller was shut down in his concerns about the PSA and the money they are taking in about trash services. He was not allowed to go over the three minutes in a recent meeting. While last night in the board meeting Jason Gullet, a Dante community leader, was allowed to go on and on during public comment. David, if he wanted to pursue it would have a legitimate lawsuit against the board for discrimination. This is not fair to anyone and it is like the board just does whatever it wants without regarding laws, rules, or standards.
The saddest part about this entire issue is that the entire board is to blame. This is making the good supervisors look bad as well. In last night’s meeting not a single board member spoke up and said time is up. Any board member could have said Mr. Chairman I think his time is up. It makes you wonder if they will not stand up for the people on a little thing can we trust you on the big things?
Not only did they allow Jason Gullet to speak way over his time but his comments were very disrespectful to some of the citizens in the county that he represents. He was saying bad things about the Dante Fire Fighters. These Fire Fighters are citizens of the Dante community and did not deserve to be openly in a meeting put down. By the words of Mr. Gullet and his praise for St Paul maybe he needs to move to Wise County and the community of St Paul instead of trying to be a community leader in a community where he is going to put the citizens down. He had loving words for St Paul and all the love and praise in the world for Supervisor Lou Ann Wallace.
The community and Fire Fighters of St Paul should be commended. They have done a great job of supporting the Dante community during the disaster and all the calls they have had to cover for the Dante community while not having a Fire Department. But, Dante citizens do not need to be put down by a so called leader of the community.
I asked AI for some guidance on the meeting rules issue and this was the response:
“AI Overview
Recourse for a Virginia Board of Supervisors not following meeting rules If a local Board of Supervisors in Virginia fails to adhere to its own meeting rules, several avenues of action may be pursued:
Informal resolution:
Contact the Board of Supervisors or the County Administrator to express concerns and seek clarification about the perceived violations.
Submitting a formal written complaint outlining the specific issues and referencing the relevant meeting rules can be more impactful than informal approaches.
Legal action:
Petition to the Circuit Court: Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), if your FOIA rights are violated regarding open meetings or records, you can file a petition in district or circuit court to compel compliance. According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, if your FOIA rights have been violated, you may file a petition in district or circuit court to compel compliance with FOIA.
Injunctive Relief: In cases of continuous violations of ordinances, a court of competent jurisdiction can issue an injunction to prevent further violations.
FOIA Council advisory opinion: The Freedom of Information Advisory Council offers non-binding advisory opinions on FOIA matters, states the Virginia Department of Transportation. This can be a useful step to gain clarity and potentially strengthen your case before pursuing legal action.
Investigations: In certain situations, the Board of Supervisors itself or other oversight bodies may have the authority to investigate the conduct of its members or other officers.
Important considerations
• Specifics of the rules violated: The effectiveness of each option may vary depending on which meeting rules were not followed.
• Timeliness: Addressing the issue promptly is often crucial, particularly when considering legal action.
• Waiver: Failing to object to a violation at the time it occurs may be seen as a waiver of the right to challenge it later.
• Legal Counsel: Consulting with legal professionals specializing in public meetings or local government law is highly recommended to assess the specifics of your situation and guide you through the appropriate channels, says the Digital Media Law Project.
In summary
While addressing violations of meeting rules can be challenging, several options exist depending on the specific circumstances. Beginning with informal resolution and escalating to formal and legal recourse, if necessary, is often the recommended path. Seeking legal advice to navigate the process effectively is critical for increasing the likelihood of a positive outcome.”
This behavior from the supervisors has to stop or the citizens need to take action against the entire board.
